Columbia  ^nibersitp 

intfjeCitpofBetDgorfe 


LIBRARY 


GIVEN    BY 


GIFT  OF 


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INTERNED  IN  GERMANY. 


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U     O     C 


INTERNED 


IN 


GERMANY 


BY 
HENRY    C.    MAHONEY 

AUTHOR    OF 
'SIXTEEN   MONTHS   IN    FOUR   GERMAN   PRISONS" 


NEW  YORK 

Robert  M.  McBride  ^  Company 

1918 


Copyright  1918 

by 

ROBERT   M.    McBRIDE  &  COMPANY 


GIFT  OF 

H.  W.  WILSON 

MAR  2  2   1929 


PUBLISHED   MAY   1918 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

I.    The 


OF     THE     British 


Round-up 
Element    .... 

II.  The  Home  of  the  "K.G.'s" 

III.  The  Citizens  of  Ruhleben 

IV.  The  Foundation  of  the  Church 
V.  The  Medical  Administration    . 

VI.  Sanitatioi^  and  Hygiene  . 

VII.  The    Establishment    of    Communal 
Government 

VIII.  Benefits  of  the  Commune 

IX.  Life  Under  the  Commune 

X.  Outdoor  Recreation 

XI.  Indoor  Entertainments 

XII.  Bids  for  Freedom 

XIII.  The  Split  in  the  Camp 

XIV.  Trading  in  Ruhleben 
XV.  The  Trading  Boom     . 

XVI.  Christmas  in  Ruhleben 

XVII.  When  THE  Pinch  Was  Felt 

XVIII.  Freedom  at  Last! 


page 
I 

20 

36 
58 
71 
91 

108 

133 

155 
188 

215 
236 

259 
280 

296 

313 

337 
360 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


German  Officers  of  Ruhleben  Camp.  Read- 
ing FROM  Left  to  Right:  The  Chief; 
Chief  Censor,  Who  Was  a  Favorite 
Amongst  the  Prisoners  Owing  to  His 
Love  of  Fair  Flay;  Baron  von  Taube,  in 
Charge  of  Affairs  (Known  as  "Baron 
VON  Two  Face")  ;  the  Remaining  Two 
Being  Members  of  the  Censor  Depart- 
ment        .....       Frontispiece 

facing 
page 

Barrack  5  Lined  Up  at  Kitchen  Waiting 

FOR  Their  Cabbage  Soup         ...       62 

An    "Advertisement"    from    the   Ruhleben 

Camp  Magazine      .         .         .         .         .110 

Outside  Barrack  5.  Showing  the  Efforts 
OF  THE  Prisoners  to  Improve  the  Appear- 
ance of  Their  Dismal  Quarters     .         .158 

An  Old  Advertisement  in  a  New  Setting. 
One  of  the  Cartoons  from  the  Ruhle- 
ben  Camp   Magazine,   Christmas,    1916    206 

vii 


FACING 
PAGE 

The  Latest  Achievement  in  Ruiileben. 
The  Boys  Worked  Long  and  Hard  to 
Cultivate  Gardens  to  Make  Their 
Crude  Horse. Boxes  Look  More  Homely. 
The  Windows  Above  Show  the  Lofts, 
THE  Height  from  Floor  to  Roof  Where 
We  Slept  Being  3  Ft.  6  In.     .         .         .     256 

Cover  Design  of  the  Christmas,  1916,  Num- 
ber of  the  "Ruhleben  Camp  Magazine"    304 

Ruhleben  British  Concentration  Camp. 
Financial    Statement    to    ioth    April 

1915 352 


Vlll 


PUBLISHER'S  FOREWORD. 


npHERE  was  published  a  year  ago  "Six- 
-'■  teen  Months  in  Four  German  Prisons" 
to  which  this  volume  is  a  sequel,  being  an 
account  of  the  months  spent  by  the  author 
in  the  Ruhleben  Internment  Camp.  Mr. 
Mahoney  was  passing  through  Germany  on 
his  way  to  Russia,  when  war  broke  out.  He 
was  arrested  and  with  others  sent  to  Wesel 
Prison,  where  he  was  tried  secretly  as  a 
spy  and  though  not  found  guilty  he  was 
never  acquitted,  but  sent  first  to  one  prison 
camp  and  then  another,  becoming  acquainted 
with  Sennelager,  Klingelputz,  and  finally 
Ruhleben,  where  he  spent  the  last  twelve 
months  of  his  imprisonment,  and  whence 
he  finally  made  good  his  escape. 

One  of  the  points  of  especial  interest  of 
which  little  has  been  heard  in  this  country 
is  an  account  of  a  violent  split  among  the 


IX 


English  prisoners,  there  being  a  group  of 
several  hundred  who  were  pro-German  in 
their  sympathies.  The  details  are  scarcely 
believable  to  us — even  now  when  one  is 
called  on  every  day  to  believe  the  incredible. 
The  conditions  in  German  camps  are  now 
of  vital  interest  to  the  American  people. 
Very  little  accurate  information  has  hereto- 
fore been  obtainable.  Mr.  Mahoney's  book 
is  an  unusual  contribution  to  this  informa- 
tion and  to  the  literatu**e  of  the  war. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  ROUND-UP  OF  THE  BRITISH 
ELEMENT 

I  was  kicking  my  heels  disconsolately  in 
the  city  of  Cologne,  an  alien  "on  pass"  in  an 
enemy  country.  Alarmed  at  the  serious  con- 
dition of  my  health,  which  had  been  under- 
mined by  privation  and  confinement,  the 
German  government  had  released  me  from 
the  internment  camp  at  Sennelager  after  an 
enforced  stay  of  several  weeks.  The  author- 
ities had  offered  me  freedom  within  the 
country  on  parole,  but  as  I  emphatically 
declined — preferring  the  possibility  of  escape 
to  England — they  gave  me  merely  a  permit, 
good  within  the  Cathedral  city  beside  the 
Rhine,  and  its  suburbs. 

I  sought  employment  without  success ;  the 
Britisher  was  at  a  serious  discount  in  the 
labor  market  at  that  time.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  practical  sympathy  of  a  compatriot 


INTERNED     IN     GERMANY 

and  friend,  Walter  K ,  whom  I  had  first 

met  in  Sennelager,  I  really  think  I  should 
have  petitioned  the  Teuton  authorities  for 
my  return  to  prison,  and  if  they  had  refused, 
should  have  committed  some  penal  offense 
to  obtain  the  protection,  such  as  it  v^as,  of  a 
German  civil  prison. 

K was  one  of  those  true  friends  whom 

one  finds  when  in  trouble.  He  had  lived  in 
Cologne  for  many  years  and  was  well  estab- 
lished in  commercial  circles,  hence  he  had 
suffered  only  a  brief  detention  at  Sennelager. 
Upon  his  release  he  returned  to  his  old  busi- 
ness, and  the  day  we  parted  at  the  Senne- 
lager camp  gates,  he  told  me  if  I  should  ever 
be  in  his  city  to  look  him  up  and  spend  a 
few  days  with  him.  I  took  advantage  of  this 
invitation  and  visited  him  at  his  country 
home  in  a  tiny,  picturesque  village  overlook- 
ing the  Rhine. 

My  first  anxiety  on  regaining  restricted 
freedom  was  for  my  wife  at  home.  I  had 
left  her,  three  months  before,  in  a  delicate 
state  of  health,  and  during  the  period  of  my 
imprisonment  had  not  heard  a  word  about 
her,  nor  had  she  heard  from  or  about  me. 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

One  circumstance  worried  me  especially.  I 
had  been  told  that  a  German  newspaper  had 
narrated  my  death,  ''shot  as  a  spy/'  after  my 
military  trial  at  Wesel  of  which  I  have  al- 
ready written  in  my  book,  "Sixteen  Months 
in  Four  German  Prisons."  I  hoped  against 
hope  that  this  ghastly  report  had  not  reached 
her. 

I  made  several  attempts  to  get  a  letter 
through,  telling  her  of  my  whereabouts  and 
experiences,  but  the  German  authorities  put 
their  foot  down  firmly  upon  the  interchange 
of  correspondence.  I  resorted  to  various 
subterfuges,  but  as  I  subsequently  learned, 
none  of  these  attempts  was  successful; 
either  the  letters  went  astray  or,  as  is  more 
probable,  were  officially  intercepted  and 
destroyed. 

During  this  period,  my  friend  and  I  were 
greatly  perturbed  by  the  attitude  of  the 
German  newspapers,  which  advocated  the 
rounding-up  of  all  British  subjects  in  Ger- 
many. All  of  them  called  vehemently  for 
drastic  action,  pointing  out  that  the  intern- 
ment camp  established  at  Ruhleben  was  the 
very  place  for  those  of  us  who  were  "on 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

pass."  The  press  went  on  to  describe  the 
amenities  of  the  camp,  dwelling  at  length, 
upon  the  conveniences,  comforts  and  amuse- 
ments provided  for  its  inmates.  Evidently 
the  bright  colors  were  laid  too  thickly  upon 
the  picture  painted,  for  a  volume  of  corre- 
spondence poured  forth  from  irate  patriots 
protesting  against  the  pampering  of  enemy 
aliens  and  suggesting  that  we  all  be  put  to 
some  useful  work  and  made  to  realize  that 
we  were  prisoners,  not  guests,  of  the  Ger- 
man nation. 

The  outlook  was  certainly  forbidding. 
Both  K and  myself  confidently  antici- 
pated arrest  at  any  moment.  The  climax 
came  one  evening.    Two  other  compatriots, 

also  released  ''on  pass,"  visited  K at  his 

home,  although  their  permit  was  only  for 
Cologne.  In  the  village  there  was  an  impor- 
tant factory  managed  by  three  Englishmen, 
and  the  fact  that  seven  Englishmen  planted 
themselves  in  this  tiny,  remote  village 
prompted  the  burgomeister,  who  knew  K — 
intimately,  to  inquire  half  jestingly  if  he 
were  contemplating  the  foundation  of  an 
English  colony  on  the  spot. 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Upon  the  evening  in  question,  these  two 
friends  came  over.  I  had  tickets  for  the 
opera,  and  accordingly  left  my  three  com- 
patriots playing  cards  and  exchanging  ex- 
periences. Coming  out  of  the  theatre  at  the 
end  of  the  performance,  my  attention  w^as 
caught  by  a  nevv^spaper  placard  announcing 
the  intention  of  the  authorities  to  intern  all 
Britons  at  once. 

When  I  reached  K 's  house  I  greeted 

them  gaily  with  "Cheer  up,  boys!  We're 
all  going  to  be  clinked  to-morrow !" 

Animated  discussion  followed  my  account 
of  the  placard  announcement.  The  two 
guests  were  in  a  quandary.  According  to 
regulations  they  were  compelled  to  report 
themselves  every  day  to  the  authorities  in 
Cologne,  because  their  passes  confined  them 
to  that  city.    They  were  out  of  bounds  at 

K 's  home.    The  hour  was  late  and  they 

were  afraid  of  being  caught  beyond  the 
limits  of  their  permit,  in  which  event,  need- 
less to  say.  Teuton  system  would  have  ex- 
acted punishment.  But  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  get  back  to  the  city  that  evening,  so 
they  spent  the  night  with  us. 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

They  left  us  at  an  early  hour  next  morning 
and  went  directly  to  the  authorities  to  con- 
form with  the  regulation.  The  official  in 
charge  curtly  ordered  them  to  return  home, 
pack  their  belongings  and  report  again  in  half 
an  hour.  They  seized  this  brief  respite  to 
telephone  a  warning  to  us. 

K at  once  bustled  off  to  the  city  to 

wind  up  his  business  and  then  returned  to 
await  the  inevitable.  During  the  morning 
I  packed  my  few  belongings,  not  forgetting 
the  voluminous  notes  relating  to  my  experi- 
ences in  previous  German  prisons  prepared 
during  my  leisure,  and  which  I  highly  treas- 
ured. 

The  blow  fell  that  afternoon.  Two  de- 
tectives from  Cologne  were  announced. 
They  stated  that  we  were  both  under  arrest. 

From  the  tenor  of  the  conversation,  K 

concluded  that  the  round-up  was  merely  a 
matter  of  form,  and  that  we  should  be  re- 
leased as  soon  as  we  conformed  with  some 
new  regulation  or  other  which  had  been 
promulgated.  I  admired  his  optimism,  but 
inwardly  held  a  contrary  opinion.  I  had 
occasion  to  view  Teuton  methods  in  a  vastly 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

different  light,  and  did  not  regard  the  out- 
look with  any  degree  of  confidence. 

Our  arrest  had  a  light  side  that  contrasted 
strangely  with  steel-bound  German  method 

and  system.    Both  detectives  knew  K 

very  well,  and  suggested — after  a  drink — 
that  we  should  proceed  to  police  headquar- 
ters as  unobtrusively  as  possible.  It  was 
first  necessary  to  report  to  the  local  burgo- 
meister,  and  the  detectives  expressed  their 
readiness  to  meet  us  there  by  appointment, 
they  in  the  meantirnje  changing  from  their 
conspicuous  official  uniforms  into  mufti. 

The  appointment  was  fixed  for  6 :30.  K — 
and  I,  our  bags  packed  with  eatables,  pre- 
sented ourselves  well  before  time,  to  find 
that  the  three  Britishers  employed  in  the 
local  factory  had  been  corralled  and  similarly 
treated.  The  local  formalities  completed,  we 
trooped  merrily  off  to  the  city,  captors  and 
captives  joking  as  if  the  best  of  friends.  We 
stopped  at  a  restaurant  for  a  farewell  dinner, 
and  the  detectives  obligingly  slipped  to  an- 
other table  so  as  to  disarm  all  suspicion. 
After  dinner  we  resumed  our  journey,  a  fes- 
tive party  until  we  turned  the  corner  leading 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

to  the  prison  whither  we  were  bound.  Di- 
rectly the  building  loomed  in  sight  our  de- 
tectives resumed  their  mask  of  officialdom, 
and  with  rough  tongues  and  brusque  manner 
bustled  us  into  the  presence  of  Teuton  au- 
thority. 

We  were  at  once  passed  on  to  the  cells, 
where  we  were  told  we  should  have  to  make 
ourselves  content  until  our  papers  came 
through  from  the  military  authorities.  We 
continued  to  make  light  of  the  experience, 

and  K stoutly  maintained  that  in  a  few 

hours  we  should  be  free  to  roam  Cologne 
again.  But  his  optimism  proved  without 
foundation.  We  did  not  regain  our  permits 
for  restricted  freedom,  but  instead  an  un- 
solicited and  unappreciated  "pass"  to  Ruh- 
leben. 

Although  German  method  and  organiza- 
tion have  been  paraded  before  the  world  ad 
nauseum,  and  for  the  most  part  have  been 
proved  as  empty  as  the  proverbial  wind-bag, 
yet  there  are  one  or  two  characteristics  of 
Prussianism  which  cannot  fail  to  command 
attention.  The  German  Government  never 
does  things  by  halves,  does  not  waste  its  time 

8 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

in  idle  threats,  and  although  it  frequently 
makes  mistakes,  the  errors  always  work  to 
the  advantage  of  authority.  When  Teuton 
officialdom  says  a  thing  is  to  be  done,  it  is 
done,  and  without  the  slightest  delay.  The 
celerity  and  completeness  with  which  the 
British  element,  resident  in,  and  travelling 
through,  the  country,  was  rounded  up  after 
the  fiat  went  forth,  bore  this  out  very  con- 
clusively. 

Within  twelve  hours  of  the  publication  of 
the  decree  every  Britisher — except  one — was 
safely  placed  under  lock  and  key. 

It  was  the  comprehensiveness  of  the 
round-up  which  created  the  greatest  meas- 
ure of  astonishment.  The  authorities  were 
as  indiscriminate  as  they  were  thorough. 
The  tourist  was  taken  with  the  man  who  had 
been  settled  in  the  country  for  ten,  twenty, 
forty  years;  the  millionaire  was  taken  with 
the  pauper;  the  bank  manager  with  the  com- 
mercial traveler;  the  magnate  of  business 
with  his  junior  clerk.  The  governing  prin- 
ciple was  "Arrest  them  all;  sort  them  out 
afterwards." 

The  round-up  was  marked  by  several  pa- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

thetic  incidents.  Many  men,  established  in 
business,  upon  reading  the  notice  to  report 
themselves  on  November  6th,  anticipated  be- 
ing granted  permission  to  proceed  to  their 
offices  as  usual. '  But  they  were  disappointed. 
Directly  they  had  been  identified  and 
docketed  they  were  clapped  into  prison. 
They  were  not  even  given  half  an  hour's 
grace  to  bid  farewell  to  their  families ;  were 
not  permitted  to  communicate  with  their 
homes  by  letter  or  telephone;  and  possessed 
nothing  beyond  what  they  had  with  them. 
The  distress  created  by  this  merciless 
method  of  arrest  was  far-reaching.  Wives 
and  children  suddenly  lost  husband  or  father, 
and  did  not  learn  the  truth  for  several  days. 

When  we  reached  the  prison  we  found,  in 
a  pitiable  state  of  distress,  one  man  who  had 
been  arrested  in  this  unceremonious  man- 
ner. He  had  rushed  away  from  a  sick  wife 
to  comply  with  the  order,  only  to  be  put 
under  lock  and  key.  He  pleaded  hard  for 
permission  to  return  and  say  good-bye,  but 
his  appeal  fell  upon  deaf  ears. 

Another  Englishman  who  answered  the 
call  was  imprisoned  in  the  same  hasty  way, 

10 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  had  not  a  penny  in  his  pocket.  One  fel- 
low was  particularly  down-hearted.  He  had 
been  established  in  Germany  for  many  years, 
and  had  a  prosperous  business  into  which 
he  had  put  all  of  his  savings.  His  partner 
was  a  German;  the  authorities  had  dragged 
him  off  for  military  service,  imprisoned  the 
Englishman  and  commandeered  the  entire 
stock  in  the  business. 

Even  more  pathetic  was  the  case  of  an- 
other Englishman,  a  widower,  who  promptly 
answered  the  summons  to  report.  He  was 
condemned  to  the  cells  the  minute  his  iden- 
tity was  established.  With  tears  in  his  eyes 
he  explained  that  he  had  come  in  haste,  leav- 
ing his  two  young  children  alone  at  home. 
Like  everyone  else,  he  had  expected  to  be 
able  to  return  home  after  complying  with 
the  regulation.  He  pleaded  for  permission 
to  complete  arrangements  for  his  children's 
guardianship,  but  the  authorities  would  not 
listen  to  him.  He  was  not  even  allowed  to 
communicate  with  his  home.  His  mental 
condition  can  be  better  imagined  than  de- 
scribed. 

Upon  our  transf errence  to  prison,  our  orig- 

II 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

inal  party  managed  to  keep  together,  K , 

the  three  British  managers  from  the  factory, 
and  myself.  While  we  were  in  Klingelputz, 
which  was  temporarily  overcrowded,  I  was 
able  to  take  stock  of  the  permanent  residents 
of  this  penitentiary,  and  they  were  the  worst 
set  of  ruffians  I  have  ever  laid  eyes  upon,  a 
large  number  of  them  serving  long  terms  of 
penal  servitude. 

One  prisoner,  as  he  walked  the  exercise 
yard,  which  our  cells  overlooked,  aroused  my 
special  attention.  He  was  garbed  in  the  uni- 
form of  the  Red  Cross,  and  for  some  time  I 
puzzled  my  brains  as  to  his  inclusion  among 
the  ^'lifers"  in  such  a  dress.  The  gaolers 
told  us  that  he  was  colloquially  known  as 
"Old  Fingers."  What  crime  had  he  com- 
mitted? Oh,  he  had  been  caught  on  the  bat- 
tlefield, not  succoring  the  wounded  as  his 
duty  ordained,  but  robbing  the  dead  and  dy- 
ing. He  had  a  penchant  for  rings,  and  in  his 
greedy  haste  was  unable  to  purloin  them  in  a 
reasonably  humane  manner,  but  cut  off  the 
fingers  instead.  He  was  caught  in  the  act, 
and  his  pockets  found  filled  with  dismem- 
bered fingers  covered  with  rings.     He  was 

12 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

sentenced  to  fifteen  years  penal  servitude, 
and  compelled  to  parade  the  exercise  ground 
in  the  Red  Cross  uniform  that  he  had  so 
abused,  as  a  terrifying  example. 

This  wholesale  round-up  of  Britishers 
speedily  provoked  complaint  from  affected 
German  interests.  The  German  v^ho  ov^ned 
the  factory  managed  by  my  friends,  went  to 
the  authorities  and  declared  that  he  would 
have  to  close  his  establishment  unless  his 
three  British  employees  were  released.  My 
three  compatriots  were  highly  amused  at  his 
discomfiture,  personally  caring  little  whether 
he  had  to  close  down  or  not.  He  continued 
to  appeal  pleadingly  for  their  release;  and 
finally,  as  the  three  men  concerned  concluded 
that  the  pure  air  of  the  outer  wold  was  pre- 
ferable to  the  oppressive  atmosphere  of  our 
cell,  their  release  was  discussed.    But  they 

would  not  go  out  alone;  K was  just  as 

respected  a  citizen  of  Cologne  as  themselves, 

and  K in  turn  declared  that  I  would  have 

to  come,  too,  and  offered  to  be  responsible 
for  my  good  behavior. 

This  wholesale  request  rather  staggered 
the  authorities,  but  there  was  no  other  way 

^3 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

out,  and  things  began  to  look  brighter  for 
us.  Finally  we  were  called  and  informed 
that  we  were  to  be  allowed  our  freedom  "on 
pass"  as  before.  Two  officers  stepped  for- 
ward to  escort  us  to  the  Polizie  Prasidium, 
the  local  equivalent  of  Scotland  Yard,  where 
we  were  to  receive  our  papers. 

It  was  an  exciting  trip  from  one  building 
to  the  other.  We  had  to  walk  through  the 
crowded  market-place,  and  as  soon  as  we 
were  seen,  the  cry  went  up,  ''Schweine-hund 
Englander"  and  we  were  greeted  with  hisses 
and  catcalls.  Our  guardians  closed  around 
and  kept  the  yelping  crowd  at  bay.  Balked 
in  their  efforts,  the  mob  opened  a  lively  fusil- 
lade with  a  variety  of  missiles.  Potatoes, 
rotten  apples  and  other  vegetable  refuse 
rained  upon  our  heads.  If  we  had  not  been 
under  escort,  we  should  certainly  have  been 
roughly  handled. 

When  we  reached  the  Prasidium  another 
delay  arose.  Our  papers  had  come  from 
Coblentz,  the  administrative  military  center, 
by  a  route  which  was  not  in  accordance  with 
official  regulations,  and  we  were  put  into 
cells  to  wait  until  they  had  been  redispatched 

'4 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  received  through  the  correct  military 
channel.  As  it  would  be  several  days  before 
they  could  be  received,  v^e  realized  that  our 
case  was  hopeless.  We  could  not  escape  in- 
ternment. Within  a  couple  of  hours  the 
prison  van  drove  up,  and  we  were  taken  back 
to  Kingelputz,  to  await  transf errence  to  Ruh- 
leben. 

At  half  past  four  the  next  morning  we 
were  aroused  and  told  to  dress  quickly — no 
easy  matter,  as  our  cell  was  lighted  only  by 
a  single  oil  lamp.  We  were  paraded,  counted 
and  recounted,  until  our  heads  began  to 
whirl.  Then,  no  man  missing,  we  were  lined 
up  with  what  belongings  we  had,  and  under 
a  strong  armed  escort,  marched  to  the  sta- 
tion. Although  it  was  early  in  the  morning, 
crowds  had  turned  out  to  gaze  upon  the  un- 
usual spectacle  of  several  hundred  British 
civilian  prisoners  being  marched  off  in  cus- 
tody. It  was  a  listless  crowd;  the  people 
looked  at  us  sullenly  but  made  no  manifesta- 
tion of  hostility.  We  turned  into  the  station 
about  eight  o'clock,  and  were  bundled 
straightway  into  the  train,  to  make  our- 
selves as  comfortable  as  we  could,  a  rather 

J5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

difficult  task  as  the  carriages  were  devoid  of 
all  heating  apparatus,  although  it  was  a 
typical  raw,  depressing  November  morning. 
After  an  hour's  wait  the  train  started  on  its 
long  pull  to  Ruhleben,  via  Hanover,  and  I  do 
not  think  that  trip  will  ever  be  forgotten  by 
any  of  the  luckless  Britishers  who  were 
aboard. 

As  was  always  the  case  when  prisoners 
were  forced  to  make  a  railway  journey,  no 
food  or  even  water  was  provided  en  route. 
German  organization  does  not  take  the  com- 
missariat into  consideration  under  such  con- 
ditions. Those  of  us  who  observed  the  pre- 
caution to  stock  our  bags  and  pockets  with 
provender  fared  well  enough;  but  there  were 
many  who  had  no  reserves  at  all.  The  wise 
shared  their  stocks  with  the  foolish  as  far  as 
possible,  but  there  was  scarcely  sufficient  to 
go  round.  One  or  two  of  our  guards,  out  of 
sympathy,  also  divided  their  humble  supplies 
with  the  prisoners,  but  for  the  most  part  our 
escort  ignored  us.  When  we  stopped  at  a 
station,  those  who  had  money  and  were  pre- 
pared to  patronize  the  restaurant,  found  that 
no  food  was  sold  to  prisoners. 

i6 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

It  is  not  surprising  that  one  or  two  of  the 
party  fainted  from  hunger  and  the  stifling 
atmosphere  of  the  crowded  carriages,  but 
they  received  no  attention.  At  one  station 
a  man  in  distress  persuaded  his  guard  to 
make  some  purchase  for  him.  As  the  guard 
was  returning  he  was  accosted  by  an  oflicer, 
who  on  learning  the  destination  of  the 
edibles,  promptly  threw  them,  on  the  ground 
and  kicked  them  hither  and  thither. 

Before  we  reached  Hanover  one  of  the 
party  collapsed.  The  train  drew  up  at  the 
station  platform,  and  seeing  a  party  of  Ger- 
man women  wearing  the  uniform  of  the  Red 
Cross  we  approached  them  and  offered  a 
mark — one  shilling — for  a  basin  of  water 
with  which  to  revive  our  comrade.  When 
these  young  women  learned  that  the  water 
was  only  required  for  a  ^^Schweine-hund 
Englander/'  they  emptied  the  basin  on  to  the 
platform,  spat  in  the  man's  face  and  turned 
on  their  heels.  But  they  kept  the  money, 
doubtless  as  a  contribution  to  the  German 
Red  Cross  Fund. 

At  nine-thirty  the  train  resumed  its  tedi- 
ous journey.     About  six  o'clock  the  next 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

morning  wc  reached  the  much  vaunted  Camp 
of  Promise.  It  was  damp,  cold  and  dark. 
Our  arrival  had  evidently  been  expected,  for 
as  we  approached  the  internment  camp  we 
observed  a  large  crowd  of  the  prisoners  al- 
ready in  occupation  gathered  around  the 
entrance.  They  gave  a  lusty  cheer  when 
they  caught  sight  of  us  and  pressed  forward 
eagerly.  Half  a  dozen  bayonets  flashed  an- 
grily and  beat  them  back. 

As  we  filed  into  the  camp,  the  inquiry  went 
up: 

''Hello,  boys !    Where  are  you  from?** 

*'Klingelputz,"  we  called  in  reply. 

"How  long  were  you  there?" 

"Only  a  few  days!    Who  are  you?** 

"The  'K.  G.*s*  ** 

The  answer  came  in  a  unanimous  roar  ut- 
tered with  such  vehemence  as  to  startle  our 
guards. 

"The  'K.  G.*s?**'  we  repeated  puzzled. 
"What's  that?'* 

"The  Kaiser's  Guests !  Come  along.  You'll 
soon  understand.*' 

In  extending  their  vociferous  welcome  to 
us  each  raised  his  tin  bowl  over  his  head,  and 

j8 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

as  we  drew  closer  we  saw  inscribed  on  the 
side  of  each  bowl,  according  to  official  in- 
structions, the  two  letters  "K.  G."  I  never 
fathomed  their  true  significance,  but  the 
prisoners  solved  the  problem  to  their  own 
satisfaction.  Every  man  in  Ruhleben  was 
facetiously  identified  as  the  ''Kaiser's  Guest." 


CHAPTER  II. 
THE  HOME  OF  THE  "K.  G.'S" 

On  that  raw,  marrow-chilling  November 
morning,  our  new  home  did  not  appear  es- 
pecially inviting,  nor  did  the  day  seem  a 
happy  augury  for  our  future  welfare.  We 
stamped  our  feet  in  the  slush,  and  swung 
our  arms  vigorously  in  desperate  efforts  to 
beat  some  warmth  into  our  quivering  bodies. 
Then  an  Englishman,  the  Captain  of  the 
Camp,  strode  up  and  piloted  us  to  the  quar- 
ters that  were  to  be  our  hom'e  for  so  many 
dreary  months. 

And  what  quarters !  It  is  difficult  to  give 
a  convincing  picture  of  the  camp  site,  but  one 
might  compare  the  racecourse  at  Epsom 
with  that  at  Ruhleben.  The  latter  is  every 
whit  as  exposed  and  certainly  quite  as 
dreary.  Upon  the  occasion  of  a  big  race 
meeting,  when  the  vcourse  was  flanked  with 
throngs  of  gaily  attired   fashionables,  and 

^0 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  weather  was  warm  and  sunny,  it  did,  no 
doubt,  present  an  animated  and  inviting  as- 
pect. But  in  the  dawn  of  that  drab  Novem- 
ber morning  it  was  about  as  attractive  as  a 
muck  heap. 

The  internment  camp  was  not  spread  over 
the  entire  course.  At  that  time  the  British 
prisoners  were  penned  into  a  small  corner — 
the  paddock — with  the  grandstand,  shorn  of 
all  its  festiveness,  thrown  in  as  a  kind  of 
make-weight.  The  racecourse  and  trotting 
track  were  railed  off.  As  we  surveyed  the 
low  rambling  buildings  we  wondered  where 
our  living  quarters  were  installed;  conceive 
our  amazement  when  we  learned  that  we 
were  expected  to  make  ourselves  at  home  in 
the  buildings  that  had  been  erected  to  accom- 
modate the  horses  and  their  provender — in 
other  words,  the  small  horse  boxes  and  the 
hay  lofts! 

The  sight  of  the  depressing  surroundings 

strengthened  our  (K ,  the  other  two  who 

had  been  arrested  with  us  and  myself)  re- 
solve to  remain  together  if  possible.  Pos- 
sibly we  should  be  able  to  extract  a  measure 
of  comfort  from  our  own  company,  and  the 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

fact  that  K spoke  German  fluently  was  a 

distinct  advantage. 

Reaching  Barrack  5,  which  was  assigned 
to  us,  we  moved  into  one  of  the  vacant  horse 
boxes.  It  reeked  with  the  pungent  aroma 
incidental  to  a  stable,  and  fresh  manure  was 
still  clinging  to  the  walls — we  heard  that  its 
legitimate  owner  had  only  been  withdrawn 
a  short  time  previously — but  we  unanimous- 
ly voted  it  to  be  preferable  to  the  confined 
space  overhead.  We  threw  down  our  be- 
longings and  were  about  to  make  ourselves 
comfortable  when  another  party  of  prisoners 
bustled  up  and  deposited  their  baggage  ex- 
plaining that  this  particular  horse  box  had 
been  assigned  to  them. 

Our  jaws  dropped.  We  cleared  out  with 
the  best  grace  we  could  muster,  made  in- 
quiries, and  learned  that  prisoners  flush  of 
funds  benefited  at  the  expense  of  their 
poorer  brethren.  The  sites  were  sold  as  if 
they  were  freeholds,  and  we  discovered  that 
in  some  instances  as  much  as  £5  had  been 
paid  for  a  horse  box.  This  sale  of  living 
quarters  created  intense  discontent,  espe- 
cially when  we  learned  that  the  transactions 

22 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

represented  a  good  round  sum  all  told.  Also 
we  had  a  very  shrewd  suspicion  as  to  who 
profited  by  the  practice.  This  is  one  of  the 
issues  that  the  more  aggressive  prisoners 
took  up  in  grim  earnest,  and  at  a  later  date 
when  things  had  been  straightened  out,  such 
penalizing  of  the  less  fortunate  prisoners 
was  sternly  suppressed.  But  in  the  early 
days  such  methods  were  common. 

Ejected  from  the  horse  box  we  wound  our 
way  up  a  creaking  ramshackle  staircase 
which  threatened  to  give  way  under  our 
weight.  We  blundered  through  the  narrow 
door  and  then  pulled  up  dead.  The  interior 
was  as  black  and  forbidding  as  a  coal  hole. 
It  was  some  minutes  before  our  eyes  grew 
accustomed  to  the  darkness,  and  then  we 
descried  upon  the  floor  a  seething,  misshapen 
mass  of  humanity,  tumbling  and  jostling 
restlessly  for  elbow  room  in  which  to  settle 
down. 

The  loft  was  some  70  yards  long  by  9 
yards  wide,  and  divided  into  two  sections. 
The  roof  sloped  sharply,  bringing  the  space 
between  the  floor  and  the  rafters  to  between 
3  feet,  6  inches,  and  4  feet,  6  inches  at  the 

^3 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

walls,  while  in  the  center  it  was  about  7 
feet.  Down  the  middle  of  the  space  ran  a 
gangway  4  feet  wide.  The  beds,  or  rather 
the  spaces  alloted  for  sleeping,  were  set 
transversely  on  either  side  of  the  gangway, 
two  feet  to  a  man,  with  head  against  the 
wall.  The  result  was  that  each  occupant 
had  to  crawl  into  the  central  gangway  to 
dress  and  undress  because  he  dared  not  rise 
in  his  bed  unless  he  wished  to  crack  his  head 
against  the  roof. 

There  was  no  ventilation  whatever;  air 
struggled  through  holes  in  the  roof  and 
cracks  in  the  walls,  but  as  the  draughts 
caused  one's  hair  to  stand  on  end  these  in- 
terstices were  promptly  chinked  with  paper. 
The  floor  was  of  stone  and  at  that  time  of 
the  year  as  cold  as  ice.  No  heating  appara- 
tus had  been  installed;  this  came  later  upon 
the  urgent  recommendation  of  the  Ameri- 
can Ambassador. 

We  strove  to  force  our  way  into  the  loft 
but  had  to  give  it  up.  The  prisoners  already 
in  possession  were  huddled  together  in  a  vain 
attempt  to  profit  by  the  warmth  radiated 
from  one  another's  bodies.    All  were  spent 

^4 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

from  the  twenty  hours'  trip  in  the  train,  and 
they  had  discarded  their  baggage  pell-mell; 
to  move  was  to  invite  a  vicious  kick  from  one 
who  had  been  trampled  on,  or  collision  with 
a  rafter.  We  cast  around  and  found  only 
one  eligible  spot  "to  let,"  capable  of  receiv- 
ing four  men.  This  we  squatted  upon,  but 
soon  discovered  why  these  few  feet  of  space 
had  failed  to  claim  an  owner.  They  were  too 
near  the  door  and  the  wind  whistled  through 
with  the  ferocity  of  a  tornado. 

After  we  had  finally  secured  our  quarters 
we  were  commanded  to  fetch  an  armful  of 
straw  and  scatter  it  loosely  upon  the  floor. 
This  was  our  couch.  The  quantity  served 
out  was  so  meager  as  to  offer  no  comfort 
when  reclining,  while  it  was  not  of  sufficient 
thickness  to  prevent  the  cold  from  the  stone 
striking  through  to  our  bodies.  Later,  when 
the  American  Ambassador  inspected  our 
quarters  and  detected  the  rudeness  of  our 
shake-down  we  were  given  boards,  placed  an 
inch  or  two  above  the  floor,  to  serve  as  beds ; 
but  until  then,  we  had  to  make  ourselves  as 
comfortable  as  we  could  by  snuggling  down 
into  the  straw  like  pigs  in  a  sty  and  packing 

25 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

closely  together  for  warmth.  Even  then,  we 
dared  not  remove  our  garments,  and,  in  my 
case,  three  months  elapsed  before  I  shed  my 
clothes  for  a  night's  rest. 

How  we  passed  the  first  night  it  is  impos- 
sible to  relate.  The  inky  blackness  of  the 
loft  prevented  one  from  moving,  once  he  had 
secured  his  quarters.  The  silence  of  the 
night  was  broken  by  the  groans,  mumblings 
and  sobbings  of  the  distraught  prisoners, 
dreaming  of  home  or  lying  awake,  too  cold 
to  sleep,  and  ruminating  on  their  unfortu- 
nate plight.  Owing  to  the  absence  of  ven- 
tilation and  the  cramped  quarters — 400  of  us 
stowed  within  this  confined  space — the  con- 
dition of  the  atmosphere  within  the  loft  must 
be  left  to  the  imagination.  It  was  stagnant 
and  fetid  to  a  degree  that  cannot  be  des- 
cribed. When  we  awoke  in  the  morning  our 
mouths  were  distended  and  as  dry  as  tinder. 
When  at  last  one  did  persuade  the  saliva  to 
perform  its  functions  the  palate  revolted. 
The  members  of  the  party  to  which  I  be- 
longed dreaded  the  effects  of  the  repulsive 
atmosphere,  and  our  first  care  upon  awaking 
was  to  flush  our  mouths  with  permanganate 

^6 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

of  potash,  of  which  we  had  a  small  stock. 

I  was  tossing  and  struggling  fitfully  when 
there  came  the  clank  of  heavily  shod  feet. 
A  raucous  voice  bawled: 

"Get  up!     Get  upT 

It  was  the  guard.  We  woke  and  en- 
deavored to  pierce  the  blackness,  wondering 
what  was  the  matter  and  thinking  it  only 
midnight,  but  to  our  surprise  learned  that  it 
was  six  o'clock,  at  which  hour  all  prisoners 
had  to  tumble  out. 

With  an  effort  we  struggled  to  our  feet 
and  bestirred  ourselves  to  perform  our  morn- 
ing ablutions.  We  asked  the  guard  for 
water,  but  that  was  like  worrying  a  hitching 
post  for  information.  Finally,  someone 
alighted  upon  two  taps  in  the  alleyway  be- 
tween the  horse  boxes  downstairs.  There 
was  a  mad  rush  towards  these  taps,  but  the 
struggling  crowd  could  not  all  wash  at  once, 
so  we  formed  in  a  long  line  to  wait  our  turns. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  400  men  desired 
to  perform  this  essential  operation,  the  for- 
midable length  of  the  line  may  be  imagined, 
and  as  we  were  due  to  parade  within  thirty 
minutes,  the  task  had  to  be  performed  very 

^7 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

perfunctorily.  In  fact,  since  German  system 
waits  for  nothing,  parade  was  often  called 
before  many  of  the  men  succeeded  in  getting 
within  arm's  reach  of  the  tap,  and  these  had 
to  dispense  with  washing  altogether. 

And  what  a  wash  for  those  who  were  suc- 
cessful! The  water  was  icy,  and  German 
hygiene  did  not  go  to  the  extent  of  providing 
soap.  It  was  apparently  an  unknown  luxury. 
During  my  entire  stay  at  Ruhleben  the  au- 
thorities never  provided  anyone  with  a  single 
cake  of  soap.  We  had  to  buy  what  we 
wanted  in  this  line  from  the  canteen,  and  we 
were  mulcted  heavily  for  an  article  which 
was  soap  in  name  only.  Towels  were  an- 
other item  concerning  which  the  Germans 
entertained  very  primitive  ideas.  A  few 
coarse  towels,  more  reminiscent  of  canvas 
than  anything  else,  were  distributed  among 
400  men.  Fortunately,  the  majority  of  us 
were  equipped  with  our  own  conveniences  in 
this  respect  and  we  clung  to  them  tena- 
ciously. 

As  it  was  impossible  for  all  of  us  to  have 
a  wash  in  the  short  period  allowed  between 
reveille  and  the  summons  to  parade,  the  more 

28 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

enterprising  tried  the  experiment  of  rising 
earlier.  But  this  effort  was  misplaced  and 
resulted  in  a  commotion.  The  noise  awoke 
those  accommodated  in  the  horse  boxes  and 
they  voiced  a  vigorous  protest.  Ill-feeling 
arose  and  caused  the  authorities  to  intervene, 
with  the  result  that  no  one  was  permitted 
to  steal  a  wash  before  the  official  hour  for 
rising — that  is,  unless  he  were  so  stealthy 
as  to  do  it  without  arousing  his  comrades 
in  the  horse  boxes. 

We  paraded  in  the  chilly  dawn  and  then 
were  marched  to  the  kitchen  for  our  break- 
fast. In  those  days  the  Germans  were  ap- 
prehensive that  the  more  daring  of  us  might 
make  a  bold  dash  for  liberty,  and  to  check 
this  they  counted  us  at  every  turn.  Woe  be- 
tide us  if  the  roll-call  were  incomplete  be- 
cause of  some  laggard.  Then  we  were  kept 
waiting  in  the  cold  while  a  spirited  search 
was  conducted  for  the  missing  prisoner. 

We  received  a  further  shock  upon  this  first 
parade  to  breakfast.  German  system  re- 
vealed another  shortcoming.  There  was  an 
insufficient  number  of  bowls  to  go  round,  so 
the  guard  raked  out  a  few  repulsive  tins  to 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

remedy  the  deficiency.  At  a  later  date  they 
provided  us  with  white  earthenware  basins, 
and  ordered  us  to  take  every  care  of  them. 
If  we  broke  these  utensils  we  were  fined  40 
pfennigs  a  replacement;,  and  were  solemnly 
warned  to  surrender  them  before  we  left  the 
camp.  So  far  as  I  personally  am  concerned 
I  am  indebted  to  the  German  Government  to 
the  value  of  one  basin,  flung  at  a  practical 
joker's  head. 

We  formed  a  dejected  procession  slouch- 
ing through  the  mud  and  slush  to  the  kitch- 
en, half  a  mile  away.  When  we  reached  it 
we  were  halted  and  forced  to  wait  until  an- 
other barrack,  already  lined  up,  had  been 
served.  It  was  not  until  each  of  those  400  men 
had  received  his  portion  that  we  could  ap- 
proach. As  only  one  man  was  served  at  a  time 
as  he  filed  by,  some  idea  of  the  delay  we  en- 
countered may  be  conceived.  The  facilities 
provided  at  the  kitchen  were  totally  inade- 
quate for  our  needs.  There  were,  for  ex- 
ample, only  three  boilers. 

As  we  filed  by,  the  chef  ladled  us  a  spoon- 
ful of  repulsive,  black,  acorn  coffee  without 
milk  or  sugar.    That  was  all.    We  were  only 

30 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

given  a  loaf  of  black  bread  every  other  day, 
and  that  had  to  last  through  six  meals.  The 
bread  itself  was  abominable,  even  from  the 
earliest  days.  We  often  discussed  its  com- 
position and  the  number,  as  well  as  the 
variety,  of  ingredients  involved  in  its  prepa- 
ration, but  we  never  succeeded  in  fathoming 
the  riddle  to  our  satisfaction.  A  loaf  vvas 
certainly  a  surprise  packet. 

We  were  not  furnished  with  even  the  fore- 
going bead  ration  for  long.  It  was  reduced 
to  about  one-sixth  of  a  loaf  per  man  per 
day. 

After  receiving  the  coffee,  some  of  the 
prisoners  hurried  back  to  the  barrack  to  drink 
it  under  cover;  while  others  braved  the  cut- 
ting wind  and  squatted  upon  the  seats  of  the 
grandstand  to  drink  it  while  still  hot.  This 
finished,  we  either  lounged  around  the  cor- 
ners exchanging  experiences  and  speculating 
upon  the  future,  or  busied  ourselves  in  our 
quarters  in  an  heroic  effort  to  kill  time. 

At  twelve  o'clock  we  were  again  lined  up, 
this  time  for  our  midday  meal,  which  was 
served  between  11 :45  and  12:45.  Each  man 
proceeded  with  his  basin  tucked  under  his 

31 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

arm  and  his  portion  of  bread  clutched  in  one 
hand.  We  were  given  about  twelve  ounces 
of  soup  which  in  the  early  days,  while  cer- 
tainly deficient  in  quality,  was  yet  palatable. 
Pea  soup  was  the  favorite,  garnished  on  rare 
occasions  with  microscopical  shreds  of  meat 
and  pieces  of  bone. 

The  afternoon  was  whiled  away  after  the 
manner  of  the  morni^ng.  Killing  time  in 
those  first  days  constituted  the  most  depress- 
ing feature  of  our  existence.  It  was  im- 
possible to  indulge  in  a  brisk  walk,  as  we 
were  herded  too  closely  together,  while  the 
surface  of  the  ground  was  churned  into  a 
sea  of  mud  and  slush  by  4,000  pairs  of  feet. 
Some  of  us  finally  decided  to  indulge  in 
games,  only  to  be  confronted  with  a  dis- 
couraging lack  of  materials.  Determined  to 
enjoy  a  little  diversion  we  hunted  up  a  few 
rags  and  some  odd  lengths  of  string,  and 
from  these  contrived  a  primitive  rag  ball 
and  let  ourselves  go  at  rounders  with  the 
ardor  of  schoolboys.  This  was  the  first  di- 
version introduced  into  the  camp  and  it 
proved  a  great  success,  becoming  increas- 
ingly  popular   when,   by   some   manner   of 

3^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

means,  a  prisoner  succeeded  in  getting  a  rub- 
ber ball  from  Berlin.  It  was  not  until  later 
that  we  were  able  to  indulge  in  football, 
though  we  relieved  the  monotony  of  our 
rounders  game  by  kicking  the  rag  ball. 

In  this  way  we  passed  the  afternoon  until 
five  o'clock  came  round.  Again  we  had  to 
line  up  to  proceed  to  the  kitchen  for  our 
evening  meal.  This  was  merely  a  repetition 
of  the  morning,  namely,  a  ladleful  of  acorn 
coffee,  without  milk  and  sugar,  which,  with 
a  small  piece  of  black  bread,  constituted  our 
*'stayer"  until  the  next  morning.  This  was 
the  menu  day  after  day.  It  never  varied  ex- 
cept for  an  indifferent  ringing  of  the  changes 
upon  the  soup  and  the  circumstance  that,  as 
time  went  on,  the  quantity  diminished  while 
the  quality  deteriorated.  Not  a  very  nour- 
ishing diet  one  will  admit,  and  certainly  not 
one  designed  to  keep  us  in  the  best  of  spirits. 
But  seeing  that  we  were  merely  ''Schweine- 
hund  Englander'^  it  did  not  matter. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  our  quar- 
ters were  devoid  of  all  ventilation,  even  dur- 
ing the  day.  We  certainly  kept  the  entrance 
door  open  as  much  as  we  dared,  but  it  was  of 

33 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

little  avail,  inasmuch  as  it  was  impossible  to 
establish  a  circulation  of  air.  The  result  was 
that  the  atmosphere  within  the  loft  became 
stagnant  and  grew  more  nauseating  and  re- 
volting as  the  respirations  and  exhalations 
from  the  bodies  of  400  men  became  associ- 
ated with  the  pungent  aroma  arising  from 
stale  soup,  which  some  of  the  prisoners  har- 
bored in  their  quarters  and  with  foul 
stenches  ascending  from  the  straw.  Add  to 
this  the  mud  and  filth  brought  in  from  out- 
side and  the  wonder  is  that  disease  did  not 
secure  a  foothold  among  us.  It  was  only 
by  unremitting  attention  upon  our  own  part 
that  such  a  calamity  was  averted. 

The  winter  evenings  dragged  wearily. 
The  only  light  permitted  in  the  loft  was  a 
small  oil  lamp — in  the  early  days  not  even 
this — which  threw  fitful  flickerings  over  the 
gloomy  cavern  and  cast  ghostly  shadows  up- 
on the  roof. 

At  nine  o^clock  came  the  curt  order,  "lights 
out."  We  were  forced  to  settle  down  upon 
the  thinly  covered  stone  floor,  lying  face  to 
face  and  huddled  closely  together  to  keep 
warm.  Very  few  could  sleep  until  utterly  ex- 

34 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

hausted.  Curses,  sobs  and  moanings  about 
home  and  those  who  were  waiting,  became 
more  and  more  distressing  as  the  night  went 
on.  One  dreaded  the  coming  of  darkness 
and  when  it  came,  longingly  sighed  for  the 
dawn. 


35 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  CITIZENS  OF  RUHLEBEN 

At  the  time  I  was  interned  at  Ruhleben, 
the  camp  was  under  military  control,  and 
a  very  unpleasant  condition  of  affairs  pre- 
vailed, the  soldiers  asserting  their  authority 
at  every  opportunity.  Later,  supervision 
was  transferred  to  civil  administration,  a 
change  that  brought  some  relief. 

The  responsible  governor  of  the  camp  was 
Graf  Scherein,  an  old  soldier.  So  far  as  he 
personally  was  concerned  we  could  lodge  no 
complaint,  for  he  was  as  sympathetic  as  he 
dared  to  be,  and  certainly  did  not  belong  to 
the  dominant  Gott-strafe-England  party. 
He  frequently  visited  us,  always  accom- 
panied by  a  lady  who  was  equally  solicitous 
in  regard  to  our  welfare.  I  have  not  the 
slightest  doubt  but  that  he  would  have  alle- 
viated our  condition  had  it  been  left  to  his 

36 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

discretion,  but  he  was  greatly  hampered  by 
official  regulations.  On  one  occasion,  consid- 
ering the  midday  dole  of  soup  to  be  an  out- 
rage, I  ferreted  him  out  and  showed  him  the 
liquid  in  support  of  my  complaint.  He  tasted 
it  and  went  at  once  to  the  kitchen  to  order 
that  it  be  improved,  which  it  was.  But  we 
could  have  raised  a  legitimate  complaint 
every  day,  and  so  at  last  we  grew  tired  of 
enlisting  the  governor's  intercession  on  our 
behalf. 

Graf  Scherein  was  passionately  fond  of 
music.  When  we  got  the  camp  going  and 
introduced  concerts  and  theatrical  perfor- 
mances he  invariably  came  and  often  brought 
friends  with  him.  He  would  listen  intently, 
applaud  and  compliment  us  upon  our  efforts 
to  lighten  life  in  the  camp. 

Unfortunately  for  us,  he  was  too  old  to 
pursue  his  task  actively;  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  many  and  complex  duties  were  as- 
sumed by  a  younger  man.  Baron  von  Taube. 

Among  the  minor  officers  was  the  chief 
censor,  who  filled  a  difficult  position  with 
much  success.  He  was  always  ready  to  do 
his  utmost  for  us;  and  if  we  were  in  doubt 

37 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

as  to  whether  a  certain  communication  were 
advisable,  he  would  willingly  help  us  and 
stretch  a  point  in  our  favor.  Not  that  it 
always  succeeded,  for  we  discovered  from 
experience  that  many  letters  which  met  with 
his  approval  were  subsequently  suppressed  by 
some  one  else  in  Berlin.  Unfortunately,  his 
superiors  resented  his  sympathetic  attitude 
and  finally  removed  him  from  office.  Then, 
there  was  the  chief  of  the  guard,  and  last, 
but  by  no  means  least,  the  official  doctor  at- 
tached to  the  camp,  of  whom  I  shall  have 
something  to  say  in  a  later  chapter. 

Each  barrack  was  presided  over  by  a  non- 
commissioned officer  and  a  private,  who 
were  accommodated  in  two  rooms  between 
horse  boxes  on  the  ground  floor.  These  men 
were  held  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  each 
building;  and  owing  to  this  under-guard  be- 
ing frequently  changed  we  were  kept  in  a 
condition  of  constant  uneasiness.  While 
some  of  the  warders  were  disposed  to  be  leni- 
ent and  to  wink  at  this  or  that,  refraining 
from  interfering  until  necessity  compelled, 
others  were  martinets,  watched  us  vigilantly 
and  swooped  down  at  the  slightest  departure 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

from  rules  and  regulations.  The  private 
was  often  the  butt  of  his  officer's  ill  humor 
and  he  promptly  visited  his  revenge  upon  us. 
One  private  I  shall  never  forget,  an  ignorant 
country  yokel  who  could  not  even  count. 

As  may  be  imagined,  we  were  an  ex- 
tremely cosmopolitan  crowd,  drawn  from 
every  conceivable  strata^of  the  social  scale. 
Only  in  two  instances  might  the  barracks 
be  called  homogeneous,  and  even  in  these 
cases  there  was  a  mixture  of  classes.  Bar- 
rack 6  was  known  as  the  "Jews'  Barrack," 
and  Barrack  8  was  tenanted  for  the  most 
part  by  sailors  taken  from  the  British  ships 
detained  in  German  harbors.  The  remaining 
barracks — eleven  in  all  with  an  additional 
teahouse,  provided  for  our  accommodation 
originally  and  their  number  increased  later — 
were  inhabited  by  a  mixed  assembly. 

Naturally  the  citizens  of  the  camp  soon 
fell  into  groups  according  to  tastes,  temper- 
ament or  social  position.  Our  particular 
coterie  was  increased  from  four  to  six  by  the 
addition  of  two  young  fellows  of  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  one  from  Hunstanton, 
the  ether  the  son  of  a  prominent  business 

39 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

man  of  London.  Subsequently,  our  party 
became  reduced  to  five,  as  one  of  the  number 
became  so  unpopular  that  he  was  drummed 
out.  Strange  human  sights  may  be  seen  in 
every  city  of  the  world,  but  I  do  not  think 
any  could  compare  with  those  presented 
during  those  dismal  days  in  Ruhleben  camp. 
We  were  given  the  use  of  a  small  stretch  of 
ground  facing  the  grand  stand,  and  this 
speedily  developed  into  the  promenade,  or,  as 
it  was  facetiously  styled,  the  ''Row."  Every 
morning,  between  the  hours  of  ten  and 
twelve,  it  was  the  place  where  the  rank  and 
fashion  of  Ruhleben  might  be  seen  in  full 
plumage. 

What  a  parade  it  was!  Down-at-heel, 
ragged  Erbert,  his  face  concealed  beneath  a 
mangy  looking  accumulation  of  hair,  rubbed 
elbows  with  d'Arcy,  who  was  still  striving 
desperately  to  create  a  sensation  with  his 
immaculate  morning  coat,  corduroy  trousers 
tied  under  the  knee,  and  patent  boots,  rather 
the  worse  for  wear  but  still  clinging  to  his 
feet  owing  to  a  liberal  use  of  string.  Others 
were  coatless  and  chuffled  along  on  impro- 
vised clogs. 

40 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

One  of  our  number  aroused  special  atten- 
tion. Rumor  declared  him  a  member  of  the 
British  aristocracy  but  in  the  early  days  at 
Ruhleben  it  was  difficult  to  deduce  the  stand- 
ing of  a  man  from  his  appearance.  Intern- 
ment is  a  mighty  leveller.  The  cockney  who 
had  done  time  was  hardly  distinguishable 
from  a  "knut"  of  the  first  water.  But  there 
was  something  about  this  prisoner  that  par- 
ticularly demanded  respect.  While  he  min- 
gled freely  among  the  others,  he  seemed 
sadly  out  of  harmony  with  the  strange  sur- 
roundings. His  clothes  still  preserved  their 
Bond  Street  cut,  and  his  speech  and  manner- 
isms their  aristocratic  flavor;  but  the  feature 
that  attracted  the  greatest  measure  of  ad- 
miration was  his  monocle.  He  was  generally 
admired  for  his  personal  character  and 
sportsmanship,  and  although  his  bearing  and 
voice  were  mimicked  mercilessly  it  was  with 
the  utmost  good  nature  and  no  one  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  banter  more  than  himself.  The 
few  occasions  when  he  presented  himself  in 
line  at  the  kitchen  with  his  basin  under  his 
arm  and  his  black  bread  in  one  hand,  his 
presence  was  the  signal  for  good-humored 

41 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

hilarity  and  he  was  irreverantly  "chi-iked." 
But  he  took  it  all  in  a  spirit  that  commanded 
respect  and  invariably  retorted  with  a  broad 
smile : 

*'D'you  know,  old  fellah,  I  really  don't  care 
a  tuppney  damn!  I  think  it's  rippin'  fun!" 
accentuating  the  drawl  to  enhance  the  effect. 

He  acted  as  though  he  really  did  enjoy  the 
unusual  experience,  and  this  contributed  to 
his  popularity.  He  accepted  the  banter  in 
the  spirit  in  which  it  was  given — namely, 
something  out  of  the  ordinary,  indulged  in  to 
sustain  our  esprit  de  corps — and  he  was  al- 
ways ready  to  extend  practical  assistance 
to  anyone  in  difficulty,  as  long  as  it  was  not 
noised  abroad.  He  carefully  avoided  pub- 
licity and  did  an  immense  amount  of  good 
by  stealth. 

The  sequel  was  rather  interesting.  Some 
months  after  my  return  from  Germany  I 
received  a  letter  from  a  country  seat  near 
Newcastle  in  which  the  writer  expressed  his 
keen  interest  in  the  return  of  British  pris- 
oners interned  in  Germany,  and  invited  me 
to  his  home  to  discuss  the  subject  from  a 
prisoners'  point  of  view. 

42 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

I  accepted  the  invitation.  Conceive  my 
surprise  when  I  discovered  the  man  so  deeply 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  our  compatriots 
at  Ruhleben — the  ruling  member  of  an  old- 
established,  north  of  England  family — was 
the  quondam  prisoner  who  had  provided  us 
with  so  much  amusement  and  who  had  al- 
ways been  ready  to  assist  those  in  distressed 
circumstances.  My  surprise,  however,  can 
readily  be  explained — in  the  camp,  names 
were  meaningless.  Sir  Timothy  Eden  had 
been  released  some  months  after  myself;  and 
since  his  return  home  he  has  labored  inde- 
fatigably  in  behalf  of  those  whom  he  had  to 
leave  behind,  and  whose  lot  has  become  ap- 
preciably hardened  by  the  straits  in  which 
the  Germans  find  themselves  as  a  result  of 
the  British  blockade. 

In  the  very  beginning  the  camp  divided 
itself  into  three  broad  groups:  The  Opti- 
mists, the  Pessimists,  and  the  Rumorists,  the 
two  first  were  constantly  involved  in  lively 
arguments.  The  Optimists  certanily  re- 
garded the  situation  through  rose-colored 
glasses,  and  for  a  long  time  refused  to  be- 
lieve that  our  detention  was  more  than  tem- 

43 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

porary.  The  Pessimists  were  every  bit  as  em- 
phatic that  all  was  up;  that  they  would  never 
see  their  homes  again;  that  they  were  all 
doomed  to  be  shot  down  in  the  last  extremity 
— in  short,  that  they  might  just  as  well  be 
dead  as  alive;  about  as  welcome  company  as 
a  man  with  measles. 

But  the  Rumorists  were  the  hete  noir  of 
the  camp.  A  rigid  censorship  tends  to  give 
Mother  Gossip  plenty  of  rope  in  a  crowded 
city,  but  never  did  she  have  such  a  fine  time 
as  in  the  camp  at  Ruhleben.  Her  chatter 
flew  hither  and  thither  as  thickly  as  leaves  in 
an  autumn  wind;  no  sooner  was  one  story 
scotched  than  half  a  dozen  equally  wild  took 
its  place.  At  last  things  reached  such  a  pass, 
that  the  more  level-headed  members  of  the 
community  took  the  situation  in  hand  and 
dealt  with  the  worst  offenders  in  a  drastic 
and  effective  manner. 

Among  those  who  had  been  summarily 
coralled  and  drafted  to  this  internment  camp 
were  one  or  two  personalities  who  com- 
manded more  than  passing  attention.  One 
was  a  London  bartender,  a  typical  cockney. 
He  contracted  the  wanderlust  while  serving 

44 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

in  his  uneventful  profession  of  drawing  mugs 
of  four  ale  down  East  End  way,  and  made  up 
his  mind  to  see  Germany  or  die.  Thereupon 
investing  his  capital  of  twelve  shillings  in  a 
safety  bicycle  and  with  nothing  else  beyond 
an  abundance  of  nerve,  he  struck  the  Conti- 
nent. He  spent  his  time  among  the  first- 
class  hotels  and  evidently  impressed  the  Teu- 
tonic Boniface  fraternity  with  the  romance 
of  his  intentions,  for  he  was  armed  with  a 
press  album  in  which  were  sedulously  pasted 
all  the  newspaper  comments  on  his  trip,  and 
at  each  hotel  he  had  prevailed  upon  the  pro- 
prietor to  attach  his  signature  and  the  in- 
signia of  his  hostelry  to  this  album.  He  was 
traveling  in  high  style  in  this  inexpensive 
manner  when  war  came  and  he  arrived  in  due 
course  of  time  at  Ruhleben  in  company  with 
his  trusty  steed,  the  latter  the  object  of  es- 
pecial interest.  Incidentally,  the  "twelve 
bob  bike''  provided  the  prisoners  with  a  good 
deal  of  amusement,  as  the  owner  willingly 
hired  it  out  for  a  consideration.  I  should  im- 
agine from  the  rush  that  ensued  for  the 
bicycle  that  its  owner  speedily  recouped  his 
original  outlay.     He  further  improved  the 

45 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

shining  hour  by  permitting  all  who  felt  so 
disposed  to  peruse  his  album  at  a  penny  a 
time. 

Another  individual  earned  the  sobriquet 
of  "Peanuts"  by  an  outburst  of  enterprise. 
He  was  a  darky  from  Sierra  Leone  who  in- 
vested his  capital  in  nuts  and  hawked  them 
from  barrack  to  barrack.  Two  other  darkies 
who  furnished  the  camp  with  infinite  enter- 
tainment were  Dick  and  Joe.  One  had  been 
making  a  living  by  dubious  means  in  Berlin 
and  was  the  most  unblushing  liar  I  have  ever 
met.  His  fun  and  love  of  practical  joking, 
even  when  it  turned  against  himself,  ren- 
dered him  a  favorite. 

The  list  of  prisoners  also  included  a  well 
known  golfer,  two  eminent  football  players, 
a  popular  athletic  trainer,  and  an  accom- 
plished Australian  violinist,  whose  talent 
whiled  away  many  an  hour  and  was  an  un- 
failing attraction  even  to  the  Germans. 

Here  and  there  the  advantage  of  having  a 
friend  at  court  in  powerful  German  circles 
was  brought  home  to  us  vividly.  Among  the 
prisoners  was  an  athletic  trainer  who  was  a 
protege  of  the  King  of  Wurtemberg.     He 

46 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

was  persuaded  to  change  his  national  coat  and 
was  thereupon  released  after  a  stay  in  camp 
of  only  a  few  hours.  One  or  two  other  prom- 
inent members  of  Berlin  society  were  sim- 
ilarly tempted  but  resolutely  refused  to  buy 
freedom  at  such  a  price  and  accordingly  are 
still  imprisoned  at  the  camp. 

Among  the  4,000  odd  prisoners  was  a  small 
party  that  aroused  universal  pity.  It  com- 
prised two  Russian  women,  of  about  thirty 
and  thirty-five  years  of  age,  with  three 
young  children.  They  were  the  only  women 
in  the  camp  and  they  felt  sadly  out  of  place 
among  such  an  overwhelming  masculine 
population.  But  every  man  considered  it  his 
duty  to  mount  watch  and  ward  over  these 
unhappy  women,  and  they  were  given  a 
small  room  partitioned  off  from  the  re- 
mainder of  the  horse  boxes.  The  children 
were  very  young,  one  scarcely  able  to  walk. 

The  fact  that  these  women  and  two  of  the 
children  had  to  present  themselves  at  the 
kitchen  along  with  us  for  their  meals  was  a 
matter  of  deep  concern  to  everyone.  I  re- 
call one  morning  in  particular.  The  ground 
was  covered  with  snow  and  slush ;  the  moon 

47 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

still  shining  brightly;  the  air  cold  and  biting. 
As  we  rounded  a  bend  in  the  road,  we  saw 
ahead  of  us  silhouetted  sharply  against  the 
sky,  the  forms  of  the  two  shivering  women, 
two  children,  a  hunchback  and  an  old  man 
with  a  wooden  leg,  trudging  laboriously 
kitchenwards.  It  was  such  a  pitiable  sight 
that  we  involuntarily  burst  into  derisive 
laughter  and  taunted  the  guards  for  in- 
terning such  harmless  creatures  as  these. 
A  few  minutes  later  our  merriment  was 
abruptly  and  completely  silenced.  When  the 
women  reached  the  kitchen  they  discovered 
that  they  had  forgotten  a  basin.  Instead  of 
the  chef  giving  a  double  portion  to  the 
women  to  divide  among  the  children,  he  curt- 
ly ordered  them  to  go  back  and  fetch  it.  The 
poor  things  were  shivering  with  cold  and  the 
children  were  crying  pitiably.  The  two 
women  looked  pleadingly  at  the  chef,  but 
they  might  just  as  well  have  tried  to  soften 
the  Sphinx.  Back  they  had  to  wearily  trudge 
to  fetch  the  missing  basin.  When  they  re- 
turned they  were  vehemently  berated  for 
tardiness  and  threatened  with  dire  penalties 
if   such   a   breach   of   regulations   occurred 

48 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

again.  There  was  not  a  man  among  us  who 
would  not  have  cheerfully  given  them  his 
portion  had  he  dared.  Some  time  later  they 
were  transferred  to  another  camp,  placed  we 
hoped,  in  more  congenial  surroundings  and 
treated  more  considerately. 

One  note  of  tragedy  was  sounded.  Shortly 
after  my  arrival,  two  Belgian  civil  prisoners 
were  brought  in,  who  had  been  arrested  in 
a  town  ravaged  during  the  German  advance. 
Hearing  that  one  of  them  could  narrate  a 
vivid  tale  concerning  German  atrocities,  I 
ferreted  him  out  and  we  had  a  long  conver- 
sation. He  told  such  a  revolting  story  of 
rapine  and  bloodshed  as  would  be  difficult  to 
parallel.  Indeed,  the  details  of  the  atrocities 
which  he  himself  had  seen  and  heard  were 
so  incredible  that  I  carefully  committed  them 
to  paper  and  suggested  that  he  put  his  name 
to  the  statement.  He  was  perfectly  willing, 
but  said  that  no  pen  could  do  justice  to  the 
rape,  torture,  mutilation  and  murder  meted 
out  to  his  compatriots  by  the  German 
soldiery. 

When  I  submitted  the  statement  to  him  he 
ran  through  it  and  urged  me  to  make  certain 

49 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

alterations  before  he  attached  his  signature 
as  he  was  determined  to  be  exact  even  to  the 
most  minute  details.  I  could  not  undertake 
the  revision  just  then,  as  this  sort  of  work 
had  to  be  carried  on  surreptitiously  in  the  se- 
clusion of  one's  quarters.  To  have  been 
caught  with  any  notes  in  one's  possession 
would  have  meant  heavy  punishment.  As 
soon,  however,  as  I  had  made  the  alterations, 
I  endeavored  to  find  him  again,  but  without 
success.  His  companion  stated  that  his 
guard  had  suddenly  turned  him  out  of  his 
barrack  and  handed  him  over  to  an  imposing 
military  escort  and  that  they  had  left  the 
camp.  Where  he  had  gone,  no  one  knew.  I 
was  keenly  disappointed  at  being  deprived 
of  what  would  have  been  most  damning  evi- 
dence of  German  brutalities  in  Belgium,  but 
the  misfortune  could  not  be  remedied,  and  in 
the  course  of  a  few  days  the  man  was  for- 
gotten. ' 

There  was  a  sequel  however,  which  un- 
nerved all  of  us  who  had  listened  to  the  Bel- 
gian's story.  One  morning  his  colleague, 
who  was  still  with  us,  received  a  small  par- 
cel of  comforts.    While  unwrapping  the  con- 

50 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

tents  his  attention  was  caught  by  a  small 
paragraph  in  a  fragment  of  newspaper,  to 
the  effect  that  Mrs.  (the  wife  of  our  former 
fellow-prisoner),  wished  to  extend  her  grate- 
ful thanks  to  the  friends  who  had  sent  floral 
tributes  in  memory  of  her  husband,  killed  by 
the  Germans.  The  fragment  containing  this 
was  torn  from  one  of  the  Belgian  newspapers 
whose  hidden  source  of  publication  had  not 
yet  been  discovered.  The  rerrtaining  Bel- 
gian, terrified  at  the  news  thus  accidentally 
gleaned,  resolutely  refused  to  speak  any  fur- 
ther concerning  the  atrocities,  fearing  that 
he  might  share  the  other's  fate.  It  was  not 
until  later  we  heard  that  the  Germans,  act- 
ing upon  the  precept  that  dead  men  tell  no 
tales  and  evidently  regarding  this  unfor- 
tunate man  as  dangerous,  had  taken  him 
back  to  the  town  in  which  he  had  been  ar- 
rested and  in  which  he  had  witnessed  the 
atrocities  in  question,  and  had  there  sub- 
jected him  to  a  farcical  trial  that  ended  in  his 
death  sentence.  How  he  was  executed  we 
never  knew,  but  the  incident  was  sufficiently 
terrifying  to  make  us  more  careful  concern- 
ing our  conversation  in  the  camp. 

51 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

One  or  two  of  our  fellow  prisoners  afforded 
us  a  good  deal  of  amusement.  There  was 
one  who  felt  his  position  keenly  and  stead- 
fastly refrained  from  making  the  best  of 
things.  He  was  rarely  seen,  preferring  the 
seclusion  of  his  barrack  quarters  to  the  so- 
ciety of  his  fellow-prisoners;  and  when  he 
did  venture  among  us,  walked  to  and  fro 
with  his  hands  clasped  behind  him  and  his 
eyes  glued  to  the  ground.  He  scarcely  ever 
ventured  a  word.  His  barrack  comrades 
told  us  that  he  spent  the  day  writing  poetry 
and  committing  it  to  memory,  carefully  tear- 
ing the  fragments  of  paper  into  tiny  pieces 
before  retiring  at  night,  evidently  in  fear 
that  their  discovery  upon  his  person  might 
incriminate  him  and  bring  further  misfor- 
tune upon  his  head.  His  comrades  did  not 
appreciate  his  lyrics;  they  were  far  from 
feeling  romantic  under  the  depressing  condi- 
tions. 

Whenever  we  had  the  opportunity  to  sing 
we  did  so  with  gusto.  Some  of  the  prisoners 
possessed  excellent  voices,  and  it  was  this 
gift  which  subsequently  brought  about  the 
formation  of  glee  singing,  choral  and  other 

52 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

musical  parties.  In  the  early  days  we  amused 
ourselves  with  improvised  concerts,  and 
when  we  got  seriously  at  work  the  guards 
used  to  stand  around  us  listening  intently 
and  watching  with  their  mouths  agape.  It 
was  something  which  they  could  not  under- 
stand, and  at  times  the  more  inquisitive 
would  ask  how  it  was  that  we  could  enjoy 
ourselves  so  wholeheartedly  when  we  were 
languishing  in  prison. 

This  penchant  for  singing  culminated  in  an 
interesting  development.  One  day  the  words 
of  a  new  song,  set  to  a  catchy  air,  were  cir- 
culated about  the  camp.  Within  a  very 
short  time  the  air  was  being  hummed, 
whistled  and  sung  throughout  the  com- 
munity; it  spread  like  magic.  A  little  later 
the  words  caught  the  popular  fancy,  the 
swinging  chorus  being  particularly  liked;  in- 
deed, its  popularity  became  so  great  that  it 
was  roared  forth  upon  every  occasion.  It 
only  wanted  one  man  to  start  it ;  the  words 
would  be  taken  up  instantly  by  everyone 
within  earshot,  to  penetrate  the  entire  camp 
within  a  few  seconds.  We  dubbed  this  air 
the  "National  Anthem  of  Ruhleben,"  and  I 

53 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

do  not  think  it  will  be  forgotten  by  any  one 
of  the  prisoners  no  matter  how  long  he  may 
live.  The  general  impression  prevailed  that 
the  song  was  a  local  creation,  but  afterwards 
I  discovered  that  the  music  belonged  to  a 
popular  music-hall  ditty  at  home  that  had 
somehow  or  other  found  its  way  to  Ruhle- 
ben.  Then,  one  of  the  boys,  considering  the 
original  words  capable  of  improvement  to 
meet  the  local  situation,  had  promptly  set 
to  work  and  the  following  was  his  contri- 
bution: 

Oh !    WeVe  roused  up  in  the  morning, 
When  the  day  is  gently  dawning, 

And  we're  put  to  bed  before  the  night's 

begun ; 

And  for  weeks  and  weeks  on  end, 

We  have  never  seen  a  friend, 

And  weVe  lost  the  job  our  energy  has 
won. 

Yes !    WeVe  waited  in  the  frost 
For  a  parcel  that  got  lost 

Or  a  letter  that  the  postmen  never  bring. 
And  it  isn't  beer  and  skittles, 

54 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Doing  work  on  scanty  victuals, 

Yet  every  man  can  still  get  up  and  sing: 

Refrain 

Line  up,  boys,  and  sing  the  chorus; 

Shout  the  chorus  all  you  can; 

We  want  the  people  there, 

To  hear  in  Leicester  Square, 

That  we're  the  boys  who  never  get  down- 
hearted. 

Back,  back,  back  again  in  England, 

Then  we'll  fill  a  flowing  cup, 

And  tell  them  clear  and  loud,  of  the  Ruhle- 
ben  crowd 

That  always  kept  their  pecker  up. 

Although  our  existence  at  Ruhleben 
seemed  altogether  aimless,  and  we  certainly 
found  it  hard  to  pass  the  tedious  hours,  a 
certain  am^ount  of  diversion  was  contributed 
from  outside.  Just  across  the  Spree  were  the 
testing  grounds  of  Spandau.  The  hours  of 
daylight  and  darkness  were  punctuated  by 
the  booming  of  heavy  cannon  undergoing 
their  exhaustive  trials  before  dispatch  to  the 

55 


INTERNED    IN    GERMAN^ 

battle  line,  while  above  the  sonorous  boom 
of  the  big  guns  rose  the  shriller  and  nerve- 
racking  tat-a-tat-tat  of  the  machine  guns. 

The  chorus  v^as  swelled  by  the  crash, 
thump,  and  clatter  of  the  heavily  laden  muni- 
tion trains  that  dashed  ceaselessly  to  and  fro 
along  the  railway  within  a  stone's  throw  of 
the  camp,  and  this  thunder  seriously  dis- 
turbed our  rest  at  night  until  we  became  so 
familiar  therewith  as  to  ignore  it.  Unre- 
hearsed displays  of  fireworks  were  our  even- 
ing, treat.  Star  shells,  brilliantly  colored 
lights,  and  scintillating  magnesium  flares, 
also  under  test,  rose  from  the  cluster  of  drab 
buildings  and  gaunt  chimneys  of  Spandau, 
lighting  the  vicinity  with  the  brilliance  of 
noonday.  At  times,  when  work  at  the  fac- 
tories was  particularly  brisk,  these  displays 
were  truly  elaborate.  Although  we  were  far 
from  the  firing  line,  we  were  able,  from  what 
we  saw  and  heard  of  the  preparations  at 
Spandau,  to  form  a  vivid  impression  of  what 
life  must  be  upon  the  Western  Front. 

During  the  day,  Zeppelins  sailed  over  our 
heads,  and  we  followed  their  movements  with 
vigorous  discussion  as  to  the  precise  role 

56 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

they  were  playing  in  the  war.  Taubes,  alba- 
trosses, and  aeroplanes  of  numerous  types, 
also  wheeled  and  doubled  above  us.  We 
watched  these  war  machines  of  the  air  in 
silence  until  one  day  one  of  the  taubes,  prov- 
ing refractory,  came  crashing  to  earth.  It 
was  heartless,  perhaps,  and  yet  we  could  not 
repress  our  exaltation  at  the  thought  that 
our  comrades  in  the  battle-line  would  be 
troubled  by  one  less  enemy  in  the  air. 


'57 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  CHURCH 

The  apathy  of  the  German  authorities  in 
all  matters  concerning  our  welfare  never 
struck  us  so  forcibly  as  on  Sundays.  While 
there  were  not  many  saints  in  the  internment 
camp  we  sorely  missed  church  upon  the  Sab- 
bath. All  days  of  the  week  came  alike  to  us, 
and  this  unvarying  monotony  soon  began  to 
pall  and  affect  our  nerves  as  well  as  our 
spirits. 

One  evening  about  half  a  dozen  of  the 
more  enterprising  braved  the  biting  wind  and 
gathered  in  the  dark,  forbidding  shadows  of 
the  grandstand,  to  discuss  the  establishment 
of  some  form  of  Divine  Worship.  One  young 
fellow  was  particularly  keen  upon  the  pro- 
ject, maintaining  that  by  this  means  we 
should  be  able  to  shake  off  our  periodical  fits 
of  depression.     By  this  time  the  camp  had 

58 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

become  sorely  dejected.  Freedom  seemed  so 
remote. 

The  proposal  was  accepted  with  avidity; 
and  then  and  there  the  movement  was 
started  by  the  singing  of  a  hymn.  Some  of 
us  were  doubtful  as  to  the  precise  effect  that 
such  action  would  have,  for  we  were  begin- 
ning to  think  that  even  the  Almighty  had 
abandoned  us,  but  we  were  pleasantly  sur- 
prised. Fellow  prisoners,  ambling  and  loung- 
ing around,  listened  intently  and  some  of 
them  took  up  the  air  and  hummed  it  with  us. 

The  next  service  was  more  enthusiastically 
attended,  and  the  meeting  became  a  trifle 
elaborated  by  the  inclusion  of  a  prayer. 
Within  a  week  or  two  this  was  extended  into 
a  service  consisting  of  a  couple  of  hymns, 
tw^o  or  three  short  prayers,  and  a  brief  ser- 
mon. Those  who  had  launched  the  enter- 
prise were  more  than  gratified  at  the  results 
achieved,  for  each  successive  service  at- 
tracted a  larger  congregation,  and  one  could 
not  help  observing  the  fervor  with  which 
those  who  attended  sang  and  how  intently 
they  listened.  The  congregation  was  drawn 
from  all  social  ranks  in  the  camp:  horny- 

59 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

handed,  weatherbeaten  sailors  rubbed  elbows 
with  men  who  had  been  dragged  from 
flourishing  businesses;  the  wilder  spirits, 
whose  cursing  and  invective  against  our  piti- 
able conditions  gave  scandal  to  their  milder 
brethren,  were  attracted  by  the  comforting 
influence  of  even  a  rudely  extemporized  dis- 
sertation. 

I  doubt  whether  the  Church  was  ever 
planted  in  more  unpromising  ground  than 
that  offered  by  Ruhleben  camp  in  those  days. 
The  first  service  was  one  of  the  strangest  I 
have  attended.  The  wind  swept  the  grand- 
stand from  end  to  end,  causing  teeth  to  chat- 
ter and  feet  to  be  numbed  into  nothingness. 
For  the  early  services  we  were  compelled  to 
gather  in  the  darkness,  but  the  hymns  were 
led  by  a  singer  whose  voice  would  have  re- 
flected credit  on  any  cathedral  choir.  Owing  to 
the  inky  blackness  of  the  night  we  had  to  de- 
pend upon  our  hearing  faculties  entirely.  Yet 
there  was  something  decidedly  cheering 
about  those  unconventional  meetings  that 
baflles  description.  At  first  the  congregation 
for  the  most  part,  smoked  vigorously,  but  as 
time  went  on,  they  gradually  refrained. 

60 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

When  we  first  set  the  enterprise  going  we 
all  feared  that  its  existence  would  be  ex- 
tremely brief.  So  many  schemes,  many  of 
brilliant  promise,  had  been  launched  in  rapid 
succession,  but  none  had  had  more  than  a 
fleeting  vogue.  Directly  a  new  project  lost 
its  touch  of  novelty  it  was  abandoned.  The 
Church  proved  the  one  exception  to  the  rule 
and  thrived  and  grew  amazingly.  Before  it 
was  many  weeks  old,  we  were  able  to  secure 
the  friendly  glimmer  of  a  little  oil  lamp, 
while  a  harmonium  came  into  the  camp  from 
some  source  or  other,  expressly  for  the  use  of 
the  Church. 

When  I  saw  that  the  Church  had  come  to 
stay,  I  wrote  to  my  vicar  at  home  and  asked 
him  to  send  us  some  hymnbooks,  bibles  and 
prayer  books.  We  needed  them  badly  for 
the  hymns  had  to  be  written  out  by  hand  for 
distribution,  a  task  not  only  tedious  but  diffi- 
cult under  the  conditions  prevailing.  Still,  the 
work  was  willingly  performed  by  the  enthu- 
siasts. Even  the  penning  of  hymns  upon 
odds  and  ends  of  paper  afforded  employment 
for  otherwise  idle  hands.  The  prayers  were 
for  the  most  part   extemporized,  and  this 

6i 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

constituted  another  drawback,  for  memory 
proved  a  fickle  reed  upon  which  to  lean.  I 
subsequently  learned  that  my  appeal  reached 
home  and  the  books  were  sent  though  they 
never  reached  us.  Greater  success  attended 
later  efforts;  my  wife  sent  me  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Testaments  which  were  distributed 
among  the  "darkies."  Contributions  from 
various  sources  came  to  hand  and  the  Church 
made  rapid  strides. 

The  duties  of  shepherd  to  the  flock  at  Ruh- 
leben  were  fulfilled  so  far  as  the  Church  of 
England  was  concerned — this  was  the  first 
sect  to  essay  the  enterprise — by  one  of  our 
members.  He  was  not  ordained,  but  he 
proved  an  excellent  leader,  was  a  fluent 
speaker  and  generally  popular.  Among  the 
prisoners  was  a  young  fellow  under  training 
for  missionary  work  and  he  also  gave  valu- 
able assistance. 

As  the  gatherings  grew  in  popularity  and 
began  to  be  regarded  an  essential  factor  in 
the  life  at  Ruhleben — the  services  were  held 
every  Sunday  afternoon  at  three  o'clock — we 
decided  to  move  from  the  uninviting  grand- 
stand to  a  better  center,  and  arranged  to  hold 

62 


o 
in 

o 
< 


td 


i-O 

u 
< 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

our  services  in  a  large  room  under  the  stand 
that  had  been  rented  to  serve  as  a  theatre 
and  concert  hall.  Music  w^as  furnished  by  a 
piano  hired  from  a  firm  in  Berlin,  w^hile  we 
also  trained  an  excellent  choir.  Once  we  had 
secured  comfortable  quarters  we  succeeded 
in  attracting  even  greater  numbers  of  the 
prisoners  and  after  a  short  time,  Sunday  ser- 
vice became  one  of  the  indispensable  features 
of  camp  life.  We  received  a  complete  array 
of  hymnbooks,  prayer  books,  Bibles  and 
other  incidenta  so  that  before  the  winter  had 
passed  we  were  as  completely  equipped,  at 
least  with  all  that  was  needful,  as  any 
Church  at  home. 

The  singing  speedily  became  a  subject  of 
admiration  in  the  camp,  not  only  among  the 
prisoners  but  the  German  military  officials 
as  well.  Many  possessed  fine  voices,  and 
under  the  careful  training  of  a  few  who  had 
achieved  a  certain  success  in  the  musical 
world,  solo,  part  and  choral  singing  attained 
an  established  reputation.  It  was  curious  to 
see  the  crowded  congregation  following  and 
taking  part  in  the  service,  while  outside  an- 
other and  equally  impressive  gathering,  com- 

63 


INTERNED    JN    GERMANY 

posed  of  the  military  guard  and  officers,  was 
assembled  to  listen  to  the  music. 

It  certainly  was  a  thrilling  experience  to 
hear  more  than  five  hundred  men  singing 
with  all  their  hearts.  The  favorite  hymns 
were  "Abide  With  Me,"  "At  Even  Ere  the 
Sun  Was  Set,"  and  another,  the  final  line  of 
which  runs,  "Give  Peace,  O  Lord !  Give  Peace 
again!"  These  words  were  roared  forth 
with  all  the  enthusiasm  we  could  muster. 
Occasionally,  "Onward  Christian  Soldiers" 
figured  in  the  list,  but  we  refrained  from  pre- 
senting it  too  often,  because  the  swinging 
tune  was  rendered  so  lustily  that  we  feared 
the  authorities  might  interfere,  under  the 
impression  that  it  was  some  national  war 
song,  a  sign  of  defiance  to  our  enemies. 

When  those  of  the  Church  of  England  had 
demonstrated  conclusively  that  it  was  pos- 
sible to  establish  a  church  in  the  camp,  other 
sects  followed  suit.  The  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  highly  appreciative  of  what  we 
had  accomplished,  became  friendly  rivals, 
through  the  initiative  of  an  interned  priest. 
He  secured  a  tiny  room  under  the  grandstand 
which,  by  some  means  or  other,  he  com- 

64 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

pletely  transformed.  He  built  an  altar  and 
introduced  many  of  the  ritual  decorations  of 
his  denomination,  and  aroused  widespread 
appreciation  that  culminated  in  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  magnificent  image  of  the  Virgin. 
Until  this  priest  was  able  to  complete  his 
own  especial  edifice,  he  often  used  to  hold  a 
service  in  our  church,  the  two  creeds  thus 
working  hand  in  hand. 

The  Father  of  the  little  church  was  a  won- 
derful enthusiast,  and  every  Catholic  festival 
was  religiously  observed.  Those  of  the 
Church  of  England  did  likewise,  and  it  may 
seem  somewhat  extraordinary  if  not  incon- 
gruous, to  relate  that  we  even  celebrated 
"Harvest  Thanksgiving,"  although  those  at 
home  might  wonder  for  what  we  could  pos- 
sibly render  thanks  unless  for  the  mere  cir- 
cumstance of  being  alive. 

After  the  establishment  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  the  Jews  also  came  into  line, 
with  their  own  building  and  traditional  ser- 
vices. Their  task,  however,  was  rendered 
somewhat  easier  than  that  of  the  others,  for 
the  Rabbi  of  Berlin  frequently  visited  the 
camp  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  work, 

^5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

receiving  assistance  from  co-religionists 
scattered  throughout  Germany.  But  it  is  a 
remarkable  circumstance,  worthy  of  record, 
that  within  a  few  months,  some  four  or  five 
denominations  had  secured  a  solid  and  per- 
manent foothold  in  the  camp,  and  were  all 
working  harmoniously  together  to  lighten 
the  load  of  the  prisoners.  It  is  impossible  to 
overrate  the  good  work  they  accomplished. 
It  was  but  a  short  and  logical  step  from  the 
regular  Sunday  service  to  the  inauguration 
of  prayer  meetings,  short  weekday  services 
and  other  applications  of  religious  work, 
which  not  only  proved  of  incalculable  benefit 
and  imparted  a  high  moral  tone  to  the  prison 
city,  but  which  afforded  us  beneficial  em- 
ployment, topics  for  conversation  and  reflec- 
tion, and  thus  a  greater  manifestation  of 
cheerfulness. 

No  mention  of  the  work  accomplished  by 
the  Church  of  England  would  be  complete 
without  a  tribute  to  the  labor  of  the  Rever- 
end Williams.  Through  an  unusual  burst  of 
generosity  on  the  part  of  the  Teuton  authori- 
ties, he  was  granted  permission  to  live  in 
Berlin  and  to  pass  from  camp  to  camp  where 

66 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

British  prisoners,  both  civil  and  military, 
were  interned.  He  held  an  extremely  diffi- 
cult position  which  he  filled  in  a  manner  be- 
yond criticism  by  the  German  authorities. 
It  chafed  us  at  times  to  think  that  he  com- 
municated nothing  as  to  what  was  transpir- 
ing in  Germany  at  large,  but  when  we  re- 
called the  trying  conditions  under  which  he 
was  discharging  his  self-imposed  duties,  and 
the  fact  that  Teuton  espionage  was  watching 
his  every  movement,  ready  to  swoop  down 
at  the  slightest  suspicion,  we  marveled  at  his 
tact  and  discretion. 

He  used  to  visit  the  camp  once  a  fortnight, 
when  he  would  take  charge  of  the  services. 
Then  the  church  would  be  crowded  to  suf- 
focation. His  sermons  were  totally  free 
from  cant,  and  appreciated  because  of  their 
chatty  nature.  He  refrained  from  comment 
on  our  situation,  his  sole  idea  being  to  cheer 
us  up.  He  would  drop  little  tidbits  of  infor- 
mation concerning  the  welfare  of  our  com- 
patriots in  other  camps  and  how  they  were 
passing  their  time,  convey  to  us  their  good 
wishes  and  strongly  urge  us  to  keep  our 
spirits  up.    At  such  visits  we  would  crowd 

6r 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

around  him,  hungry  for  news,  but  of  this  he 
could  tell  us  little.  He  never  ventured  a 
word  concerning  the  military  situation,  the 
achievements  of  the  belligerents,  or  the  eco- 
nomic state  of  affairs  in  Germany;  his  con- 
versation was  strictly  limited  to  our  own 
situation,  although  he  never  omitted  to  voice 
his  sympathy  for  us. 

No  member  of  the  cloth  ever  toiled  harder 
than  he,  nor  discharged  his  trying  duties 
more  efficiently.  His  task  in  Berlin  was 
that  of  looking  after  the  wives  and  families 
of  the  prisoners,  and  while  he  carefully  re- 
frained from  acting  as  courier  between  the 
separated,  he  was  able  to  extend  the  assur- 
ance that  all  was  well  without  giving  the 
slightest  offense  to  the  authorities.  It  was 
mainly  through  him  that  we  learned  how  the 
prisoners  in  the  other  camps  were  faring. 
Once  or  twice,  when  the  necessity  arose,  we 
made  collections  to  provide  our  less  fortu- 
nate compatriots  with  comforts,  and,  on  one 
occasion,  he  brought  us  a  sum  of  money 
which  had  been  raised  on  our  behalf  among 
the  prisoners  at  Doberitz  camp.  Many  ex- 
changes of  courtesies  were  effected  through 

68 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

his  untiring  energy;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
no  man  was  so  popular  or  held  in  such  high 
esteem  among  the  prisoners,  irrespective  of 
religious  convictions. 

Without  being  irreverent  I  may  say  there 
was  a  touch  of  pathetic  even  tragic  humor, 
in  connection  with  our  services.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  mustered  with  their 
food  basins  and  portions  of  bread.  Suddenly 
above  the  singing  would  come  the  tramp  of 
feet,  muffled  at  first  but  rapidly  growing 
louder.  A  barrack  was  marching  to  the  kitch- 
en for  its  evening  dole.  As  the  procession 
swung  by,  every  member  took  a  hurrifed 
glance  over  his  shoulder  to  identify  the  party 
and  if  a  man  recognized  his  barrack  he  would 
hastily  grab  his  bowl  and  bread,  dart  out  of 
the  building  and  fall  into  the  rear  of  the  pro- 
cession. Possibly,  some  devout  worshippers 
at  home  may  regret  that  we  placed  creature 
before  spiritual  comfort,  but  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  we  were  receiving  barely 
enough  to  keep  body  and  soul  together;  miss- 
ing a  meal  meant  going  hungry  for  hours, 
and  we  were  so  penalized  that  even  the  de- 
nial of  a  single  meal  involved  hardships.  The 

dp 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

men  did  not  scramble  hurriedly  from  the 
House  of  God  from  their  own  choice  or  in- 
clination, but  in  obedience  to  the  first  law 
of  nature,  coupled  with  the  unbending  rules 
of  Prussian  organization. 

On  one  occasion,  when  one  of  the  prisoners 
died,  we  hoped  that  we  might  be  privileged 
to  extend  him  the  final  religious  ceremony 
observed  at  home.  But  this  was  denied.  All 
that  the  authorities  would  permit — in  fact, 
commanded — was  filing  past  the  hearse  con- 
taining the  coffin  which  we  mutely  saluted. 
The  burial  service  was  held  elsewhere,  and 
only  ten  prisoners  from,  Ruhleben  were  per- 
mitted to  follow  our  late  comrade  to  his  last 
resting  place.  I  made  an  effort  to  be  in- 
cluded in  this  party  but  was  unceremoniously 
refused.  Evidently  the  authorities  had 
gained  an  inkling  that  I  was  keeping  my 
eyes  and  ears  open,  because  they  conveyed  to 
me  in  unmistakable  language,  their  determi- 
nation and  so  I  had  to  return  to  the  barrack 
to  nurse  my  disappointment. 


70 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  MEDICAL  ADMINISTRATION 

Owing  to  our  close  confinement,  lack  of 
adequate  exercise,  the  unsanitary  condition 
of  our  quarters,  the  utter  absence  of  the  ru- 
diments of  hygiene,  and  the  monotony  and 
insufficiency  of  our  food,  it  is  amazing  that 
we  were  not  ravaged  by  an  epidemic  of  some 
sort.  Had  disease  in  a  virulent  form  secured 
the  slightest  foothold,  it  would  have  run 
through  the  community,  as  a  fire  rushes 
through  a  forest  leaving  devastation  in  its 
wake. 

Germany  may  have  accomplished  wonders 
in  the  science  of  therapeutics,  and  may  have 
produced  a  host  of  brilliant  physicians,  but 
both  men  and  methods  were  sadly  missing  at 
Ruhleben.  The  first  doctor  to  be  officially 
appointed  to  the  camp  did  undoubtedly  show 

71 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

a  humanitarian  interest  in  his  charges,  but 
this  could  hardly  be  said  of  his  successor,  Dr. 
Geiger. 

He  was  a  stern  advocate  of  the  Prussian 
system.  He  would  visit  no  one.  His  sur- 
gery was  attached  to  the  Kommandantur's 
office,  and  here  the  patient,  no  matter  how 
ill,  had  to  be  brought,  and  more  than  this 
the  doctor  would  see  no  one  except  at  the 
specified  hours. 

Dr.  Geiger's  medical  skill  soon  became  the 
subject  for  much  distrust.  A  terrifying  skin 
disorder  broke  out  and  attacked  everyone 
indiscriminately.  It  was  not  only  an  un- 
sightly but  an  extremely  painful  eruption 
that  ravaged  the  face  and  other  exposed  por- 
tions of  the  body.  Ugly,  inflamed  sores 
swelled  up  and  some  of  the  prisoners  were 
horribly  disfigured.  To  make  matters  worse, 
the  camp  suffered  from  a  plague  of  mosqui- 
toes during  the  torrid  season  when  the 
malady  was  at  its  height.  These  insects 
rendered  life  almost  intolerable.  To  them 
the  rash  seemed  as  attractive  as  the  fly  to  the 
trout.  The  camp  at  the  time  was  in  a  filthy 
condition;  refuse — animal  and  vegetable — 

7^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

abounded,  and  was  exposed  to  these  unwel- 
come visitors,  who  attacked  the  garbage  and 
ourselves  in  turn. 

The  appearance  of  this  skin  irruption  and 
the  virulence  with  which  it  spread,  filled 
everyone  with  terror.  We  dreaded  it  as  the 
precursor  of  the  one  thing  we  most  feared,  an 
epidemic.  It  must  be  remembered  that  con- 
ditions were  highly  favorable  to  its  develop- 
ment. We  were  penned  up  like  cattle  with  lit- 
tle space  in  which  to  exercise,  the  racecourse 
at  this  time  being  shut  off  from  us  by  barbed 
wire  fencing.  Our  sleeping  quarters  had  de- 
teriorated into  little  more  than  sties,  despite 
the  so-called  improvements  that  had  been 
carried  out,  mainly  as  a  result  of  our  con- 
tinuous protest  and  at  the  instigation  of 
the  American  Embassy  where  we  lodged  our 
complaints.  We  had  no  soap  except  what  we 
bought  ourselves,  and  as  a  result  those  who 
were  without  money,  and  they  were  many, 
had  to  do  without.  We  were  likewise  without 
towels,  and  those  who  were  so  fortunate  as 
to  possess  their  own  had  to  guard  them  care- 
fully to  prevent  their  disappearance  or  uni- 
versal use.    How  some  of  the  prisoners  man- 

73 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

aged  to  keep  themselves  clean  was  more  than 
the  rest  of  us  could  understand. 

For  three  months  after  our  arrival  we 
were  also  denied  the  luxury  of  a  bath.  One 
or  two  of  the  bolder  and  more  hardened 
spirits  resorted  to  the  only  alternative.  They 
stripped,  stood  in  the  passageway  and  sub- 
mitted to  having  buckets  of  ice  cold  water, 
drawn  from  the  taps,  thrown  over  them.  In 
the  middle  of  winter,  with  the  mercury  in  the 
thermometer  striving  desparately  to  with- 
draw from  sight  into  its  bulb  and  the  north 
wind  whistling  ferociously,  this  demanded 
no  little  pluck. 

Finally  this  skin  rash  secured  such  a  strong 
hold  that  we  considered  it  time  to  seek 
medical  assistance,  and  forthwith  besieged 
the  surgery.  The  estimable  doctor  appeared 
to  be  at  his  wit's  end  to  diagnose  and  treat 
it  effectively;  in  his  opinion  there  appeared 
to  be  only  one  potential  remedy — aspirin. 
This  drug  seemed  to  constitute  the  Alpha 
and  Omega  of  his  medical  knowledge  for  he 
enlisted  its  assistance  for  all  of  the  ills  to 
which  the  flesh  is  heir.  I  have  been  in  the 
surgery  and  seen  a  man  come  tottering  in, 

74 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

almost  delirious  with  fever.  A  tablet  of  as- 
pirin was  all  he  received.  Another  comrade 
came  along  suffering  from  acute  diarrhoea. 
Aspirin  was  again  dealt  out.  A  third  limped 
in  with  a  sprained  foot ;  and  he,  too,  was 
treated  with  aspirin.  At  home  we  laugh  at 
the  widely  advertised  medicines  that  are 
blazoned  as  a  cure  for  all  ills,  but  British 
faith  in  these  articles  is  as  nothing  compared 
with  the  Germans'  belief  in  the  curative 
properties  of  the  coal-tar  derivative,  for  the 
aspirin  treatment,  which  became  one  of  the 
jokes  of  Ruhleben,  was  by  no  means  peculiar 
to  this  camp.  In  each  of  the  four  prisons 
wnth  which  I  made  an  intimate  acquaintance, 
aspirin  appeared  to  be  the  sovereign 
remedy. 

Under  such  circumstances  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing that  we  came  to  regard  the  qualifications 
of  the  doctor  for  his  responsible  post  with 
considerable  misgiving,  and  we  hated  to  en- 
trust ourselves  to  the  aspirin  quack.  What 
measure  of  relief  we  received  came  from  an 
unexpected  quarter — one  of  the  prisoners, 
who  must  have  studied  medicine  very  thor- 
oughly.   When  we  discovered  his  ability  we 

75 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

placed  ourselves  in  his  hands  and  trusted  him 
implicitly. 

This  accomplished  comrade  was  untiring 
in  his  efforts  although  he  had  to  pursue  his 
practice  in  secret.  The  prisoners  flocked  to 
him,  or  he  had  to  visit  them  if  they  were  too 
ill.  The  task  was  one  of  extreme  difficulty 
as  he  had  to  work  without  arousing  the  faint- 
est suspicion.  It  was  only  the  cases  he  con- 
sidered too  serious  for  secret  treatment  that 
were  referred  to  the  official  doctor.  But  a 
man  had  to  be  prostrated  with  a  dangerous 
nialady  before  he  would  consent  to  call  in 
other  aid.  The  result  was  that  our  compa- 
triot found  himself  in  constant  demand  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  night. 

Evidently  our  official  representative  got 
wind  of  what  was  taking  place  and  his  pro- 
fessional jealousy  was  aroused;  but  be 
either  lacked  courage  to  expose  the  other 
or  he  was  not  quite  sure  of  his  information, 
for  nothing  was  said  by  the  authorities  who 
refrained  from  interfering  any  more  than 
was  necessary.  The  less  work  they  were  oc- 
casioned on  behalf  of  the  prisoners  the  better 
from  their  point  of  view.    They  would  never 

t6 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

seek  trouble,  so  that  the  official,  had  he 
lodged  his  complaint,  would  probably  have 
met  with  little  sympathy. 

An  interview  with  this  official  doctor  was 
always  amusing.  When  a  patient  presented 
himself  at  the  surgery  he  was  curtly  re- 
quested to  narrate  the  symptoms  of  his  dis- 
order, the  doctor  meantime  regarding  him 
with  suspicious  eyes.  When  the  patient  had 
finished,  the  doctor  would  burst  out  in  a  kind 
of  shriek: 

"Malingerer!" 

This  was  one  of  the  few  English  words  he 
knew,  and  he  used  to  delight  in  enunciating 
it  with  the  rat-a-tat-tat  of  a  machine  gun, 
dwelling  at  length  upon  each  syllable.  He 
never  believed  a  prisoner.  To  him  we  were 
always  shamming.  But  his  use  of  this  word 
caused  one  real  tragedy.  A  prisoner  was  suf- 
fering from  an  advanced  heart  complaint, 
and  one  day,  feeling  particularly  ill,  he  pre- 
sented himself  to  the  doctor.  When  the  pa- 
tient had  concluded  his  case,  out  came  the 
inevitable  word.  The  man,  stung  to  the 
quick  by  the  false  accusation,  became  ex- 
cited, and  flew  into  a  fearful  rage,  which, 

77 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

however,  only  served  to  convince  the  doctor 
of  the  correctness  of  his  deductions.  The 
patient  stamped  off  to  his  barrack  in  high 
dudgeon.  A  few  hours  later  he  was  found 
dead;  he  had  succumbed  to  his  affliction. 

On  another  occasion  one  of  our  number 
fell  ill,  and  even  our  unpractised  eyes  could 
see  that  he  was  being  tortured  by  a  raging 
fever.  One  or  two  of  us  went  down  to  the 
surgery  to  report  and  we  urged  the  doctor 
to  visit  the  sufferer.  But  he  would  not  hear 
of  it.  His  surgery  was  provided  for  receiv- 
ing patients,  and  unless  they  presented  them- 
selves there  they  could  not  expect  to  receive 
the  fruits  of  his  knowledge  and  skill.  We 
protested  vehemently  that  the  man  was  un- 
able to  walk,  but  to  no  avail.  Retracing  our 
steps  we  got  our  comrade  out  of  his  bed, 
wrapped  him  up  as  warmly  as  we  could,  since 
the  weather  was  bitter,  and  assisted  him  to 
the  surgery.  But  that  journey  nearly  proved 
his  undoing.  Upon  his  return  he  was  pros- 
trated. He  rapidly  grew  worse,  and  it  was 
only  through  our  unremitting  attention  that 
he  pulled  through.  Throughout  the  whole 
of  his  severe  illness  the  medical  attendant 

78 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

never  exhibited  the  slightest  trace  of  interest 
or  humane  f  eeHng  in  this  man. 

One  young  British  jockey  went  under 
merely  because  the  doctor  refused  him  the 
attention  of  which  he  was  in  dire  need.  The 
death  of  this  fellow  forced  a  wave  of  deep 
indignation  throughout  the  camp,  for  the 
general  opinion  was  that  he  would  have  lived 
had  he  been  properly  treated.  The  authori- 
ties strove  to  assuage  the  outburst  of  popu- 
lar feeling  without  success.  To  this  day  the 
prisoners  emphatically  declare  that  the 
young  jockey  was  a  victim  of  the  Prussian 
system  in  its  most  oppressive  and  brutal 
form  which,  in  plain  English,  may  be  de- 
scribed as  nothing  short  of  gross  neglect  and 
absolute  indifference  as  to  whether  he  re- 
covered or  not. 

Our  official  medical  attendant  sometimes 
displayed  signs  of  initiative  and  enterprise 
that  created  widespread  amusement.  One  of 
these  remarkable  brain  waves  struck  him 
one  morning  during  the  prevalence  of  the  skin 
disease,  when  the  rapid  increase  in  the  num- 
ber of  patients  had  begun  to  cause  alarm. 
After  he  had  surveyed  a   score  of  us  he 

79 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

jumped  excitedly  to  his  feet,  prancing  like  a 
two-year-old,  and  rubbing  his  hands  glee- 
fully at  his  brilliant  inspiration.  We  sur- 
veyed him  wonderingly,  until  turning  to  us, 
he  ejaculated: 

'1  know  what  is  the  matter  with  you.  You 
are  too  lazy.  You  don't  bestir  yourselves. 
You  want  exercise.  Do  you  understand? 
Exercise!  Exercise!  Exercise!  !  And  you 
are  going  to  get  it." 

As  we  had  been  fretting  for  weeks  for  the 
opportunity  to  give  our  legs  a  good  stretch 
we  failed  to  see  any  novelty  in  his  diagnosis. 
Confinement,  as  we  all  knew,  had  been 
chiefly  responsible  for  the  scourge  that  had 
visited  us.  No  one  can  conceive  the  wistful- 
ness  with  which  we  used  to  look  through  the 
chinks  in  the  gate  upon  the  broad  expanse  of 
the  trotting  and  racing  track  from  which  we 
were  shut  oflF.  We  would  have  given  any- 
thing to  have  taken  a  sharp  walk  or  sprint 
around  its  circuit.  Now  we  were  to  have  our 
ardent  desire  gratified  as  part  and  parcel  of 
our  medical  treatment. 

The  doctor  was  so  jubilant  over  his  dis- 
covery of  the  cause  of  the  malady  that  he  was 

80 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

impatient  to  apply  the  remedy  and  resolved  to 
set  the  ponderous  Prussian  machinery  mov- 
ing v^ithout  loss  of  time.  We  v^ere  paraded, 
and  the  entire  band  of  4,000  prisoners  were 
ushered  through  the  gate  for  a  brisk  walk 
around  the  track,  under  a  strong  guard,  need- 
less to  say.  But  this  very  walk  revealed  the 
incompetence  of  our  medical  guardian  in  a 
telling  manner,  for  we  were  of  all  ages  and 
physical  conditions,  some  sick,  others  in  full 
health,  and  yet  we  were  all  commanded  to 
walk  at  the  same  gait  and  the  guards  set  the 
pace.  Those  of  our  number  who  were  young 
and  healthy  had  no  difficulty  in  maintaining 
the  official  military  stride,  and  were  able  to 
keep  it  up  for  the  prescribed  quarter  of  an 
hour  without  feeling  any  fatigue ;  but  those 
who  had  passed  the  prime  of  life,  and  who 
were  stiil  of  limb,  as  well  as  those  in  poor 
physical  condition,  could  not  manage  more 
than  a  moderate  gait,  and  then  could  keep 
it  up  for  only  short  intervals. 

Consequently,  the  exercise  developed  into 
nothing  but  a  farcical  episode  which  those  of 
us  who  were  fit  enjoyed  hugely.  The  older 
men  and  those  in  indifferent  health,  dropped 

8i 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

out  one  after  the  other.  The  procession 
which  started  out  so  bravely,  with  the  com- 
pactness of  a  battalion  of  fighting  men,  be- 
came attenuated  into  a  long-drawn-out, 
straggling  line.  It  was  impossible  to  slow 
down  the  pace  to  that  of  the  slowest  man, 
since  then  the  younger  and  more  agile  mem- 
bers of  the  party  failed  to  keep  themselves 
warm  and  all  benefit  arising  from  the  exer- 
cise was  lost. 

Dr.  Geiger  finally  grasped  the  situation, 
and,  probably  at  the  urging  of  the  officers 
who  understood  the  matter  far  better  than 
he  did,  the  4,000  men  were  divided  into  two 
companies :  the  first  composed  of  the  brisker- 
walking  members,  and  the  second  of  those 
who  could  only  muster  a  moderate  pace.  But 
even  then  the  result  was  no  better  than  when 
we  were  mustered  together.  The  only  obvious 
solution  was  to  divide  the  prisoners  into  a 
number  of  small  groups,  each  of  common 
walking  ability,  but  this  scheme  was  too 
complicated  for  the  guards,  and  the  doctor's 
enthusiasm  underwent  a  heavy  dampening. 
Within  a  few  days,  the  walk  deteriorated  in- 
to a  go-as-you-please,  as-long-as-you-please, 

82 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

when-you-please  display  of  pedestrianism 
that  was  anything  but  impressive  to  the 
Prussian  guards  who  were  accustomed  to 
seeing  everything  proceed  with  the  precision 
of  clockwork.  Within  a  month  the  daily 
exercise  was  abandoned  as  a  complete  fail- 
ure, much  to  our  disappointment,  for  we  had 
enjoyed  the  walk  keenly.  But  this  abandon- 
ment was  characteristic  of  German  methods. 
Few  proposals  suddenly  conceived  upon  our 
behalf  and  enthusiastically  ushered  in, 
proved  more  than  the  proverbial  nine  days' 
wonder. 

Within  easy  distance  of  Ruhleben  and 
forming  part  of  the  n:\edical  administration, 
though  independently  controlled,  was  the 
sanatorium  to  which  certain  cases,  after  a 
prolonged  diagnosis,  were  transferred  from 
the  camp.  Prisoners  who  were  compelled  to 
accept  its  treatment  had  to  pay  their  own  ex- 
penses, and  needless  to  say,  we  were  fined 
heavily.  While  some  of  the  prisoners  de- 
clared that  little  fault  could  be  found  with 
this  home,  under  the  circumstances, — they 
were  careful  to  explain  this  qualification — 
others  condemned  it  unequivocally.    I  made 

82 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

up  my  mind  to  keep  out  of  it  at  all  hazards 
and  succeeded,  so  I  cannot  say  anything 
based  upon  personal  experience  as  to  the 
treatment,  but  the  most  emphatic  complaint 
was  the  expense  of  the  treatment  within  its 
walls. 

There  was  one  subsidiary  establishment 
that  was  regarded  askance  by  every  man  in 
the  camp.  This  was  the  lazaret.  Male  or- 
derlies attended  to  the  patients,  while  a 
prisoner  was  appointed  to  serve  as  general 
attendant.  Many  dark  stories  concerning 
this  hospital  were  circulated,  and  it  certainly 
gained  a  far  from  savory  reputation. 

While  some  of  the  stories  were  unmistak- 
ably exaggerated,  others  were  founded  on 
solid  fact.  I  can  testify  to  the  latter  from 
personal  investigations.  I  learned  that  on 
one  occasion  the  establishment  ran  out  of 
surgical  dressings  and  had  nothing  with 
which  to  tend  injured  prisoners.  They  sur- 
mounted the  difficulty,  from  what  I  dis- 
covered, by  using  discarded  dressings. 

This  utilization  of  second-hand  dressings, 
which  should  never  have  escaped  the  fire, 
provoked  a  feeling  of  horror;  but  there  was 

84 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

no  alternative.  Every  dressing  upon  v^hich 
hands  could  be  placed  had  been  requisitioned 
for  military  service,  so  severe  was  the  short- 
age of  materials. 

On  another  occasion  a  young  prisoner  ad- 
mitted to  the  hospital  suddenly  collapsed. 
He  was  examined  and  life  pronounced  ex- 
tinct. Although  it  was  not  an  expert  exam- 
ination it  was  accepted  and  the  supposed 
corpse  was  immediately  taken  out  and  laid 
in  a  bath  that  happened  to  be  handy.  The 
cold  night  air  exercised  a  resuscitating  effect, 
and  the  young  fellow,  unable  to  get  out  of  the 
bath,  crouched  upon  his  freezing  couch  all 
night  at  the  mfercy  of  the  inclement  weather. 
He  was  found  in  the  morning,  half  dead  with 
the  cold  and  hurried  to  the  hospital,  where 
desperate  efforts  were  made  to  save  him.  He 
lingered  for  a  few  days  and  then  died,  osten- 
sibly from  the  malady  from  which  he  was 
suffering;  but  whatever  part  the  disease  may 
have  played,  it  was  only  too  apparent  that  it 
had  been  materially  hastened  by  exposure 
during  that  fearfully  cold  night. 

When  a  prisoner  died,  his  body  was 
secretly  disposed  of,  and  we  never  knew 

S5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

what  became  of  it.  The  only  information 
vouchsafed  was  that  he  had  been  sent  away. 
Within  a  short  time  the  truth  leaked  out,  and 
we  began  to  attach  an  awful  significance  to 
the  words  *'sent  away."  The  prisoners  used 
every  means  to  keep  out  of  the  lazaret,  pre- 
ferring to  take  their  chance  among  their  com- 
rades, who  were  far  more  solicitous  about 
their  continued  presence  in  their  midst  than 
were  the  authorities. 

As  the  weeks  dragged  wearily  by,  many 
radical  changes  were  effected;  but  every  im- 
provement was  due  entirely  to  the  initiative 
and  work  of  the  inmates  themselves.  The 
authorities  did  not  care  two  straws  whether 
we  were  alive  or  dead.  German  arms  were 
apparently  triumphant,  so  what  did  it  matter 
whether  the  prisoners  suffered  abuse,  short 
commons  or  were  ignored  almost  entirely! 
If  a  man  went  under,  it  merely  meant  one 
less  prisoner  to  watch  and  feed.  It  was 
simply  the  undaunted  spirit  of  the  prisoners 
themselves  that  kept  the  camp  going.  The 
authorities  provided  us  with  nothing  beyond 
what  was  absolutely  imperative,  and  only 
the  incessant  hammering  of  the  American 

86 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

Ambassador  brought  about  any  improve- 
ment in  our  conditions,  and  to  his  credit  be 
it  said,  he  always  listened  patiently  to  our 
wailings.  If  they  were  well  founded  he  lost 
no  time  in  causing  the  Germans  to  take  note 
of  them,  and  never  let  the  matter  drop  until 
his  recommendations  had  been  carried  into 
effect. 

During  the  early  days  one  of  the  iniquities 
of  the  camp  was  what  can  only  be  described 
for  want  of  a  better  term,  the  isolation  or 
quarantine  camp.  It  was  separated  from  us 
as  completely  as  the  American  continent  is 
separated  from  Europe  by  the  broad  Atlan- 
tic. I  discovered  its  existence  quite  by  acci- 
dent, when  trudging  aimlessly  through  the 
camp  one  day  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  my  friend 
Moresby  White  and  another  prisoner  who 
had  been  with  me  at  Sennelager,  and  who 
had  passed  through  the  frightful  tragedy  of 
"The  Bloody  Night  of  September  11th."  I 
hailed  them,  but  at  that  moment  the  two  dis- 
appeared into  a  barrack. 

Returning  to  my  own  quarters  I  told  the 
others  of  my  discovery.  They  were  incredu- 
lous and  chaffed  me  mercilessly  over  my  im- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

agination,  but  I  refused  to  give  in.  To  prove 
that  I  had  not  been  suffering  from  mental 
hallucination  I  hastened  off  to  discover  my 
friends,  but  although  I  hunted  high  and  low 
and  made  exhaustive  inquiry  at  the  barrack 
into  which  I  had  seen  them  vanish,  I  failed 
to  track  them.  I  began  to  wonder  whether 
after  all  I  had  not  been  the  victim  of  my  own 
imagination. 

The  days  passed  without  any  success  at- 
tending my  inquiries,  and  I  was  just  giving 
up  all  hope  when  I  suddenly  came  face  to 
face  with  Moresby  White.  My  first  inquiry 
was  as  to  the  barrack  in  which  he  was  living. 

"Barrack!''  he  replied,  "I'm  not  in  a  bar- 
rack.   I'm  in  the  isolation  camp !" 

"Isolation  camp?"  I  repeated  in  surprise. 

"Yes.  That  place  over  there!"  and  he 
raised  his  arm  to  indicate  its  situation. 

"What's  it  like?" 

"Like !  Phew !  I  guess  its  the  limit  I  It's 
just  running  alive!"  And  the  disgust  with 
which  he  spoke  was  more  impressive  than 
the  words  themselves. 

He  was  living  in  strange  company,  in- 
deed.   He  shuddered  as  he  related  the  con- 

88 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

dition  of  his  companions  and  how  the  whole 
place  was  reeking  with  vermin ;  from  which  I 
gathered  he  was  having  a  pretty  hard  time 
of  it.  But  he  was  not  disposed  to  be 
communicative;  he  had  become  inured  to 
hardship  under  Prussian  authority,  and  was 
content  with  the  foregoing  picturesque  ex- 
planation, feeling  confident  that  I  would  un- 
derstand, as  indeed,  I  did.  Some  days  later 
he  was  transferred  to  the  main  camp. 

To  judge  by  the  more  eloquent  descrip- 
tions vouchsafed  by  other  prisoners  who 
made  acquaintance  with  the  isolation  estab- 
lishment, it  must  have  been  a  terrible  hole. 
Its  reign,  fortunately  was  brief.  Even  some 
of  the  inmates  who  were  not  unfamiliar  with 
vermin  raised  a  protest  against  the  plague 
of  parasites  there.  There  objections  were 
expressed  with  more  violence  than  politeness 
and  the  mutterings  were  not  lost  upon  the 
authorities.  These  unsavory  quarters  were 
dismantled,  and  our  warders  showed  a  de- 
sire to  forget  all  about  them  the  moment 
their  noisome  reputation  became  common 
property  in  the  camp. 

The  circumstance  that  Ruhleben  has  never 

89 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

been  ravaged  by  contagion  offers  a  high  trib- 
ute to  the  prisoners  themselves,  and  is  not 
due  in  the  slightest  degree,  to  German  effort. 
The  prisoners  speedily  appreciated  the  neces- 
sity of  observing  all  rules  of  hygiene,  and 
introduced  measures  of  precaution  as  far  as 
was  possible  v^ithin  their  limited  powders. 
The  authorities  merely  looked  on.  When 
the  camp  began  to  crystallize  into  a  well- 
ordered  and  law-abiding  community,  and 
when  schemes  for  effecting  improvements 
were  matured,  all  dangers  of  an  epidemic 
passed  away. 


90 


CHAPTER  VI. 
SANITATION  AND  HYGIENE 

The  German  nation  would  have  the  world 
believe  that  it  is  unassailable  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  science  of  sanitation  and  hy- 
giene; but  the  camp  at  Ruhleben  gave  the 
lie  direct  to  this  assertion. 

At  the  time  that  I  arrived  at  the  camp,  con- 
ditions were  ghastly.  The  authorities  had 
not  even  introduced  the  rudiments  of  a  sani- 
tation system;  everything  was  of  the  crudest 
description. 

Although  we  numbered  around  4,000 
souls,  there  was  only  sufficient  latrine  ac- 
commodation for  twelve  men,  and  even  this 
was  of  the  most  primitive  description. 

We  persistently  agitated  for  a  reform  of 
the  sanitation  system,  for  we  feared  the  ef- 
fect of  the  open,  foul-smelling  cesspool  up- 
on our  health,  but  it  was  of  little  avail.    The 

91 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

authorities  appeared  to  be  absolutely  help- 
less. Then  we  begged  for  further  accommo- 
dation to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  camp, 
but  this  appeal  likewise  fell  upon  deaf  ears 
until  we  at  last  succeeded  in  drawing  the  at- 
tention of  the  United  States  Ambassador  to 
the  situation.  He  instantly  recognized  the 
legitimacy  of  our  complaints  and  ordered  ex- 
tensions and  improvements  to  be  carried  out. 
While  his  active  intervention  brought  about 
a  certain  amelioration  of  the  fearful  condi- 
tions, the  improvements  themselves  were  of 
the  crudest  sort. 

It  was  not  until  many  months  later  that 
any  efforts  were  made  to  grapple  with  the 
situation  upon  scientific  lines.  Then  a 
flushing  system  was  introduced,  which 
must  have  been  linked  up  with  an  existing 
sewage  disposal  scheme  in  operation  at  Span- 
dau,  since  the  main  pipe  from  the  camp 
passed  under  the  canal  in  that  direction.  But 
even  here  there  was  incompetence.  The 
main  installed  was  far  too  small  in  diameter 
to  cope  with  the  volume  of  work  imposed; 
and  consequently,  blocks  in  the  pipes  oc- 
curred with  alarming  frequency  and  tem- 

92 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

porarily  disorganized  the  whole  scheme. 
Still,  the  installation,  despite  its  shortcom- 
ings, served  to  ease  our  minds  very  materi- 
ally. In  due  time  we  were  able  to  shut  down 
the  original  latrine  altogether,  and  subse- 
quently, at  our  own  expense,  turned  it  to 
account  as  a  semi-open-air  cold  shower  bath. 
In  the  early  days  the  authorities  made  no 
attempt  to  cope  with  the  surface  water  that 
collected  after  a  heavy  rainstorm — and  it 
does  rain  at  Ruhleben.  Some  of  the  prisoners 
whose  homes  were  in  Farther  Britain,  can- 
didly admitted  that  in  this  one  respect  the 
camp  reminded  them  of  home.  The  rain 
pelted  down  with  the  fury  of  a  tropical 
storm ;  and  under  the  pounding  of  4,000  pairs 
of  feet,  the  surface  of  the  ground,  especially 
where  the  maximum  of  traffic  was  imposed, 
became  churned  into  lakes  of  mud.  Roads 
were  conspicuous  by  their  absence.  As  the 
surface  was  wildly  uneven  and  the  rain 
water  could  not  get  away  quickly  by 
soakage,  it  wandered  here,  there,  and  every- 
where, forming  uninviting  lagoons.  We  did 
not  object  to  these  accumulations  of  water 
save  that  they  compelled  us  to  become  am- 

93 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

phibious  while  they  lasted;  we  had  to  wade, 
sometimes  ankle  deep,  through  the  slime,  to 
get  our  meals  at  the  kitchen. 

No  effort  was  made  to  remedy  this  state 
of  affairs.  One  barrack,  fringing  a  depres- 
sion in  which  the  water  always  collected,  suf- 
fered somewhat  severely,  and  when  the 
water  gave  signs  of  rising,  the  inmates  of 
the  barrack  had  an  exciting  time.  A  minia- 
ture barrage  of  boards  and  other  accessible 
materials  was  run  up  at  the  entrance  to  keep 
the  water  out,  for  this  was  the  only  means 
by  which  floods  could  be  averted.  Even  then, 
the  water  forced  an  entry  into  the  barrack, 
making  the  interior  thoroughly  damp.  How 
the  inmates  ever  succeeded  in  warding  off 
illness  was  more  than  the  rest  of  us  could 
fathom. 

Things  finally  came  to  a  pass  that  de- 
manded drastic  action  on  our  part.  When- 
ever we  complained  to  those  in  charge,  they 
merely  met  our  protests  with  a  non-com- 
mital  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  a  shake  of  the 
head  and  eyebrow  dancing;  so  we  decided  to 
work  out  our  own  salvation.  We  laid  our 
heads  together  and  discovered  that  our  ranks 

94 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

included  one  or  two  civil  engineers  as  well  as 
many  others  who  were  familiar  with  road- 
making  tools.  The  former  prepared  the  de- 
signs and  the  latter,  organized  into  business- 
like gangs,  carried  them  into  effect.  An  ex- 
cellent road  was  driven  right  through  the 
camp,  ensuring  us  a  dry  causeway  no  matter 
what  the  weather  might  be,  so  that  we  could 
move  between  barracks  and  the  kitchen  in 
comfort  and  with  dry  feet.  The  cost  of  build- 
ing this  road  was  defrayed  by  ourselves,  the 
men  who  carried  out  the  actual  work  being 
paid  a  weekly  wage  from  a  special  com- 
munity fund.  The  road  was  so  well  built 
that  even  the  authorities  were  moved  to  ad- 
miration and  after  it  was  completed  they  had 
the  impudence  to  approach  the  designers  and 
working  gangs  to  ask  if  they  would  build 
roads  for  the  Germans  outside  the  camp. 
Needless  to  say,  this  cool  request  met  with 
a  very  blunt  and  emphatic  refusal. 

The  road  was  given  an  excessive  camber, 
and  its  surface  was  tightly  compressed  so  as 
to  allow  the  water  to  make  a  quick  and  easy 
escape  to  either  side  where  it  formed  stag- 
nant lakes.    These  lakes  furnished  amuse- 

95 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ment  to  the  interned  sailors,  who  would 
fashion  miniature  boats  with  paper  sails  and 
indulge  in  model  boat  racing,  pursuing  the 
recreation  with  all  the  delight  of  schoolboys. 
It  was  the  only  way  in  which  they  could  kill 
time. 

When  we  entered  into  occupation  of  the 
barracks,  lighting,  both  natural  and  artificial, 
was  at  a  serious  discount.  So  far  as  the  lofts 
were  concerned  a  condition  of  twilight  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  day,  the  rays  of  the 
sun  only  penetrating  the  everlasting  gloom 
fitfully  through  the  small  begrimed  windows. 
In  those  days  artificial  lighting  was  abso- 
lutely unknown.  We  either  had  to  go  to  bed 
with  the  birds,  which  was  about  five  o'clock 
in  winter,  or  spend  the  evening  conversing  in 
the  darkness.  Nine  o'clock  was  the  official 
hour  for  extinguishing  all  lights,  but  seeing 
that  they  were  existent  only  in  the  abstract, 
the  call  ''lights  out"  and  the  final  round  by  the 
guard  to  see  that  the  regulation  was  obeyed, 
seemed  somewhat  superfluous,  and  inciden- 
tally created  considerable,  though  enforced 
hilarity. 

The  dreariness  of  the  evening  hours  grated 

96 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

upon  our  nerves,  so  one  or  two  of  the  more 
dare-devil  spirits  decided  to  run  the  risk  of 
trouble  by  breaking  rules.  A  few  candles 
were  obtained,  and  the  faint  soft  light  shed 
by  them  sufficed  to  invest  the  forbidding 
lofts  with  a  little  cheer.  By  summarily  tak- 
ing the  solution  of  this  problem  into  our  own 
hands  we  incurred  the  risk  of  severe  penalties, 
for  the  authorities  dreaded  a  fire;  but  to  our 
surprise  nothing  was  said.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  it  appeared  as  if  the  utilization  of 
candles  gave  birth  to  a  brilliant  if  belated 
inspiration.  Electric  lighting  was  installed, 
at  the  direct  instigation  of  the  American 
Ambassador,  and  this  was  a  decided  improve- 
ment, since  it  enabled  us  to  indulge  in  even- 
ing occupations  and  recreations  within  the 
sanctuary  of  our  own  residence.  One  lamp, 
in  the  center  of  the  loft,  was  permitted  to  re- 
main alight  all  night,  a  concession  we  greatly 
appreciated,  because  if  we  could  not  sleep  we 
could  pass  the  time  by  reading  or  writing. 

But  the  most  intense  discomfort  we  ex- 
perienced was  caused  by  the  bitter  cold.  We 
virtually  lay  upon  the  bare  stone  floor  at 
night — scarcely  an  inch  of  straw  between  the 

97 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

hard  couch  and  our  bodies.  During  the  win- 
ter we  were  nearly  frozen  to  death.  Our 
Hmbs  were  numbed,  while  we  shook  as  if 
with  the  ague.  In  response  to  our  petition 
the  American  Ambassador  insisted  that  the 
barracks  be  heated,  and  to  this  end  a  central 
heating  plant  was  installed  somewhat  tar- 
dily. Undoubtedly  the  authorities  resented 
this  enforced  contribution  to  our  comfort,  a 
supposition  confirmed  by  the  arbitrary 
method  it  was  operated.  A  central  station 
was  erected  and  equipped,  pipes  leading 
therefrom  to  the  various  buildings,  but  when 
first  brought  into  use,  the  heat  was  turned 
on  for  only  a  brief  period  during  the  day  and 
the  degree  of  heat  emitted  was  almost  im- 
palpable, while  it  was  provided  at  an  hour 
when  we  could  have  done  without  it.  Later 
the  authorities  appeared  to  become  more  in- 
telligently interested  in  the  matter  with  con- 
sequent improvement.  Another  distinctly 
beneficial  step  was  taken  when  the  American 
Ambassador  demanded  that  our  beds  be 
raised  above  the  floor. 

Strange  to  relate,  it  was  only  those  in  the 
lofts  who  derived  benefit  from  the  heat.    The 

98 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tenants  of  the  horse  boxes  got  no  comfort 
from  it,  for  the  pipes  had  been  placed  out- 
side. The  occupants  were  also  victims  of  the 
drafts  that  whistled  through  the  space  be- 
tween the  partition  and  the  ceiling.  They 
overcame  this  by  pasting  up  brown  paper 
which  unfortunately  excluded  what  little 
heat  there  was.  This  unhappy  condition  of 
affairs  was  never  remedied.  The  authorities 
had  fulfilled  their  part  of  the  bargain;  they 
had  installed  the  heating  system  demanded 
by  the  American  Ambassador,  and  it  was  up 
to  the  prisoners  to  devise  ways  and  means  to 
secure  the  maximum  of  benefit  therefrom. 

While  the  ventilation  of  the  horse-boxes 
was  fairly  complete,  thanks  to  the  draughts, 
that  of  the  lofts  was  execrable.  When  we 
first  went  into  residence  we  could  secure  a 
certain  degree  of  ventilation  by  opening  the 
small  windows.  But  the  authorities  would 
have  none  of  this.  They  not  only  closed  the 
windows,  but  screwed  them  up  tightly,  and 
to  make  sure  that  they  would  not  be  opened 
surreptitiously  they  covered  them  on  the  out- 
side with  heavy  wire  netting.  The  reason 
for  this  action  was  never  fathomed ;  possibly 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

it  was  done  to  frustrate  any  attempt  at  es- 
cape during  the  night.  What  ventilation  we 
received  came  through  the  cracks  in  the 
walls  and  the  holes  in  the  roof. 

The  former  channels  were  draughty  so 
that  it  was  necessary  to  stop  them  with 
paper.  The  holes  in  the  roof  had  to  go  un- 
touched, but  they  were  a  source  of  intense 
discomfort  during  rainy  weather  when  the 
water  came  dripping  through,  saturating  the 
bedding  and  submitting  the  occupant  to  an 
unappreciated  shower  bath.  To  secure  any 
tangible  ventilation  we  had  to  leave  the  door 
ajar,  but  as  the  air  came  through  this  opening 
with  the  ferocity  of  an  Arctic  blizzard  we 
had  to  close  and  seal  it  up. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  our  captors 
allowed  us  to  lead  an  entirely  idle  life.  There 
were  certain  duties  which  we  had  to  perform 
daily,  such  as  collecting  paper  littering  the 
camp,  and  sweeping  the  purlieus  of  the  build- 
ings. There  was  a  huge  bin  outside  each 
barrack  into  which  refuse  and  sweepings 
were  thrown.  Once  a  week  we  were  given  a 
wagon,  to  which  the  contents  of  the  bins 
was  transferred.     Then  we  had  to  convey 

100 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

this  garbage  to  the  dump.  No  horses  were 
provided  for  haulage ;  we  had  to  do  this  our- 
selves. Teams  of  prisoners  were  hitched  to 
the  shafts  and  under  guard  were  compelled 
to  drag  the  vehicle  to  a  big  depression  not  far 
away  which  was  being  filled  up.  Despite  the 
arduousness  of  this  work,  there  was  never  a 
lack  of  volunteers  to  serve  as  haulers ;  it  gave 
us  the  opportunity  for  a  little  exercise  and 
to  see  something  beyond  the  four  walls  of 
our  prison. 

The  attribute  of  civilization  that  we  missed 
more  than  anything  else  was  a  bath.  The 
only  makeshift,  as  I  have  already  narrated, 
was  to  stand  stark  naked  upon  the  stone  floor 
of  the  passageway  near  the  taps  and  sub- 
mit to  have  a  bucket  of  ice  water  thrown 
over  one  by  a  comrade.  We  fretted  at  the 
denial  of  facilities  to  keep  ourselves  clean, 
and  finally  brought  the  authorities  to  relent. 
I  have  already  mentioned  the  isolation  camp 
not  far  distant,  a  feature  of  which  was  a  hot 
shower  room.  When  the  camp  itself  was 
abandoned  the  shower  room  was  retained, 
and  those  who  desired  a  bath  were  escorted 
to  the  building  by  an  armed  guard. 

lOI 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Although  this  room  was  dilapidated  and  ex- 
tremely primitive,  we  unhesitatingly  ac- 
cepted the  advantages  it  offered.  We  were 
compelled  to  disrobe,  bathe,  and  dress  again 
in  what  was  virtually  all  one  room  and 
naturally  the  steam  arising  from  the  hot 
water  formed  a  thick  impenetrable  fog  that 
saturated  our  underclothing.  It  was  useless 
to  grumble ;  we  had  agitated  for  bathing  fa- 
cilities and  they  had  been  provided.  If  one's 
clothing  became  wet  during  the  process,  well, 
that  was  the  owner's  affair.  And  so  we  had 
to  retrace  our  steps  to  the  camp  with  our 
underclothing  wringing  wet,  clinging  to  our 
shivering  bodies. 

For  many  months  the  luxury  of  hot  water 
within  the  camp  was  practically  unknown. 
We  were  compelled  to  walk  to  the  kitchen 
and  ask  the  attendants  for  a  small  basinful. 
If  they  were  gracious  they  would  oblige. 
When  we  commenced  to  receive  parcels  of 
provisions  from  home  the  demand  for  hot 
water  increased  alarmingly,  since  we  re- 
quired it  to  boil  our  tea,  coffee  and  cocoa  in 
the  privacy  of  our  barracks.  If  a  trip  were 
made  to  the  kitchen  it  was  likely  to  prove 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

fruitless;  possibly  a  barrack  would  be  lined 
up  waiting  to  be  served,  in  which  case,  no  one 
else  could  hope  to  receive  attention  unless 
willing  to  wait  at  the  end  of  the  line.  If  no 
one  were  there,  then,  for  a  halfpenny  or  so, 
the  water  would  probably  be  given. 

We  appealed  to  the  authorities  for  an  ex- 
tension of  these  facilities.  They  listened, 
and  suggested  that  we  erect  a  special  boiler 
house  at  our  own  expense,  a  concession  we 
gladly  accepted  and  not  only  did  we  pay  for 
the  materials  and  erection  but  for  the  fuel 
required  to  run  it  as  well. 

This  boiler  house  proved  an  inestimable 
boon.  We  could  get  a  bucket  of  water  for  a 
penny,  and  the  demand  was  heavy.  A  long 
line  would  form  outside  and  I  have  often 
waited  for  an  hour  or  more  for  my  bucketful. 
The  venture  proved  a  highly  profitable  one, 
and  incidentally  must  have  been  lucrative 
to  the  authorities  since  they  were  said  to 
draw  a  commission  of  seven  and  a  half  per 
cent  upon  all  transactions. 

Hot  water  was  in  demand  for  a  hundred 
purposes,  but  more  than  anything  else  for 
heating  the  tins  of  food  we  received  from 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

home.  At  first,  it  was  the  practice  of  the 
prisoners  to  go  down  to  the  boiler  house,  pay 
a  penny  for  a  bucketful  of  water,  and  then 
immerse  the  tins  for  about  an  hour,  calling 
for  the  article  on  the  way  back.  Subse- 
quently, we  hit  upon  a  more  economical  and 
satisfactory  method  of  achieving  the  same 
end.  A  string  was  tied  securely  to  each  tin, 
together  with  a  label  bearing  the  owner^s 
name.  The  tin  was  then  dropped  into  the 
boiler  along  with  others;  and  several  dozen 
tins  could  be  heated  in  this  way  at  one  time. 
When  the  owner  came  along  for  his  tin,  the 
attendant  hauled  it  out  and  the  owner  rushed 
away  to  his  barrack  with  it  before  it  cooled. 
Sometimes  the  string  became  detached  from 
the  tin,  and  then  occurred  exciting  fishing 
matches.  Probing  in  a  big  boiler  for  a  tin 
of  food,  dodging  several  others  attached  to 
their  leashes,  as  well  as  the  merrily  boiling 
water  and  the  blinding  steam,  was  sport  in- 
deed, not  unmixed  with  a  certain  amount  of 
voluble  invective  upon  the  part  of  the  at- 
tendant, who  considered  the  enterprise  well 
worth  the  penny  levied  and  who  waxed  sar- 
castic at  the  awkwardness  of  the  owner  in 

104 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tying  the  string  to  the  tin  so  disastrously. 
Hot  water  was  also  warmly  appreciated 
for  laundry  purposes.  In  the  early  days, 
washing  of  clothes  was  practically  unknown. 
Many  prisoners  possessed  nothing  beyond 
what  they  wore ;  and  if  a  prisoner  so  placed 
decided  to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  clean 
underwear  he  had  to  wash  it  out  himself  and 
stay  in  bed  until  it  had  dried.  As  a  rule,  the 
garments  presented  a  worse  appearance 
after  laundering  than  before,  since  soap  was 
scarce  and  cold  water  is  hardly  effective  for 
the  purpose.  Later,  a  firm  in  Berlin  under- 
took to  carry  out  all  laundry  work,  collecting 
and  delivering  once  a  week.  This  arrangement 
only  benefitted  the  prisoners  who  were  able 
to  point  to  a  well-stocked  wardrobe;  those 
who  had  but  one  shirt  or  pair  of  socks  could 
not  stay  in  bed  until  the  solitary  garment 
returned;  and  these  were  compelled  either  to 
refrain  altogether  or  wash  their  own  gar- 
ments at  night,  trusting  that  they  would  be 
dry  in  the  morning.  When  further  supplies 
became  available,  they  were  either  worn  con- 
tinuously until  they  could  be  worn  no  longer, 
and  then  discarded  in  favor  of  a  new  outfit, 

105 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

or  else  the  conventional  practice  was  fol- 
lowed of  wearing  one  while  the  other  was  at 
the  laundry. 

So  far  as  the  internal  condition  of  the 
lofts  was  concerned  we  were  left  to  our  own 
devices.  At  first  we  were  compelled  to  lie 
upon  loose  straw,  but  this  was  afterwards 
stowed  into  sacks  provided  by  the  authori- 
ties, thereby  forming  small  mattresses.  To- 
day, straw  being  valuable  as  a  foodstuff, 
wood-shavings  are  served  out  to  fulfil  this 
purpose.  The  mattress  idea  was  warmly  ap- 
preciated, inasmuch  as  w^hen  the  straw  was 
loose  it  became  heavily  contaminated  with 
mud  and  other  filth  introduced  upon  our 
boots,  which  precipitated  a  lamentable  state 
of  affairs,  especially  when  the  straw  was 
periodically  livened  up,  and  threw  heavy 
nauseating  clouds  of  dust  into  the  air. 

When  the  straw  had  been  mattressed  we 
were  able  to  keep  the  floor  in  a  tolerably 
clean  condition,  although  the  congested  dis- 
position of  the  wooden  beds  reduced  the  open 
space  to  narrow  gangways.  These  were 
swept  regularly  by  orderlies  appointed  by 
the  residents  of  the  barracks  and  chosen 

io6 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

from  the  necessitous  members  among  us, 
who  were  paid  for  their  work.  Each  man  in 
a  barrack  contributed  a  penny  or  more  a 
week  to  the  orderly  fund,  the  contribution 
varying  with  the  monetary  status  of  the 
prisoner. 


10^ 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  COMMUNAL 
GOVERNMENT 

When  I  was  drafted  to  the  central  intern- 
ment camp  near  Spandau,  the  community 
which  I  found  reminded  me  of  nothing  so 
much  as  a  mammoth  gypsy  encampment. 
When  4,000  men  are  suddenly  flung  into  one 
another's  company,  chaos  and  confusion  are 
inevitable.  The  British  colony  resident  in 
and  traveling  through  Germany,  were  so 
stunned  by  the  suddenness  and  comprehen- 
siveness of  the  blow  that  they  failed  to  grasp 
its  entire  significance  and  effects.  Ignorance 
and  uncertainty  as  to  the  future  caused  the 
time  to  drag  heavily.  An  atmosphere  of 
utter  aimlessness  prevailed,  and  the  faint- 
hearted, fortunately  in  the  minority,  settled 
down  in  a  hopeless  comatose  state,  prepared 
to  accept  anything  and  everything  as  it  came, 

io8 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  refraining  from  lifting  a  finger  on  their 
own  behalf. 

All  things  considered,  there  was  a  per- 
fectly legitimate  excuse  for  such  lethargy 
and  disposition  to  accept  the  camp  as  it  was 
found.  The  current  impression  prevailed 
that  we  were  certain  to  be  released  within  a 
very  short  time;  that  the  authorities  had 
rounded  us  up  merely  to  keep  us  under  sur- 
veillance while  maturing  a  scheme  whereby 
they  would  be  able  to  keep  perfect  track  of 
us  with  facility  or  to  arrange  for  our  re- 
patriation. Many  cherished  the  thought  that 
we  should  be  given  our  freedom  on  "pass" 
once  more,  or  at  least  be  permitted  to  live 
within  certain  areas,  where  we  could  be 
watched  without  taxing  the  authorities  to 
any  pronounced  degree.  Naturally  such  a 
buoyant  hope  re-acted  against  any  interest 
being  evinced  in  our  surroundings.  We 
argued,  and  logically  perhaps  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, that  it  would  be  a  sheer  waste 
of  time  and  energy  to  embark  upon  any  im- 
provements, since  an  order  consenting  to  our 
release  might  come  to  hand  at  any  moment. 

The  authorities  were  wily;  they  encour- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

aged  the  maintenance  of  the  fictitious  theory 
at  the  time.  It  was  to  their  advantage.  The 
Teuton  is  unremittingly  cautious  to  avoid 
trouble.  In  this  instance  the  authorities  were 
quick  to  seize  upon  British  feeling  to  the 
greatest  advantage  to  themselves,  and  did 
not  hesitate  to  placate  us  in  every  possible 
manner.  They  did  not  openly  aver  that  we 
were  to  be  released  within  a  short  time;  they 
were  too  shrewd  for  that.  But  at  the  same 
time  they  did  not  deny  the  current  statement 
which  gained  credence  and  widespread  cir- 
culation. I  had  already  learned  to  my  cost 
that  the  German  is  uncannily  adept  at  this 
game.  I  had  suffered  from  similar  tactics 
while  languishing  in  Wesel  prison  and  Sen- 
nelager  camp,  and  I  declined  to  be  lulled 
into  a  false  sense  of  security.  I  communi- 
cated my  personal  impressions  to  my  col- 
leagues, but  for  the  most  part,  they,  being 
ignorant  of  the  depths  of  German  craftiness 
and  bluff,  refused  to  listen  to  me  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  I  was  promptly  declared  to  be  a 
croaking  raven. 

A  certain  restiveness  and  chafing  prevailed 
among  the  prisoners  but  owing  to  the  sedu- 

IIO 


AU-  POSTAlMATTTRFREe , 


:enowned  Resort  for  Restful  Relaxation. 

TF 


■ntaCEltBRAreORESTAURAKTOYltE.     A,    fHE  OfNlAL MANNER  ^ 


CUBBIE  MALLTEMPERANCE  HOTEL,  smiijutk  from  railwaystatkdn  .  lOo  feet  above 

SEAUEVELl    JDEAUV.SITUATEU.  PRIVATE  GOLF  COURSE  .    WINTER   CARDEKS  (N   COURSE  OF 
CONSTRUCnON.   CNGUSH  CMEF5.  UNIFORMED NKjHTPORTERS.     NO  FOREIGN  WAITERS.    COOKIS 
TDURtSTS  AOCCPTCD.    CVERYTMINO    MODCPJATC.        PROPRIETORS ;-LjOFTS  UMITEO. 


An     "Advertisement"     from     the     Ruhleben     Camp     Magazine. 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

lous  fostering  of  the  idea  of  a  speedy  re- 
lease, open  discontent,  trouble  and  agitation 
were  successfully  averted.  Moreover,  the 
authorities  realized  that  by  keeping  us  keyed 
up  to  such  a  high  pitch  of  expectancy,  they 
w^ere  gradually  wearing  down  our  high 
spirits,  and  that  complete  relapse  would  at- 
tend the  reaction  when  we  at  last  realized 
that  we  had  been  living  in  a  fooFs  paradise. 
It  was  not  until  we  observed  one  new  build- 
ing after  another  going  up,  thereby  increas- 
ing our  accommodations,  that  the  awful 
truth  dawned  upon  us.  Then  we  realized  we 
were  condemned  to  stay  in  this  prison  for  an 
indefinite  period. 

Once  we  grasped  this  true  condition  of  af- 
fairs we  surveyed  the  situation  from  the  only 
sensible  point  of  view,  deciding  to  make  the 
best  of  it.  Transference  from  military  to 
civil  administration  brought  a  certain  meas- 
ure of  improvement,  but  the  former  still  re- 
mained supreme.  The  camp  was  closely 
guarded  by  soldiers,  although  armed  control 
within  was  gradually  relinquished  and  at  last 
ceased  altogether  as  we  proved  law-abiding 
and  tractable.    We  assumed  the  responsibili- 

III 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ties  of  maintaining  order  ourselves.  Then 
the  soldiers  were  delegated  solely  to  patrol- 
ling outside  the  camp,  sleeping  quarters  be- 
ing provided  within,  and  they  were  dispos- 
sessed of  all  authority  over  us,  for  which 
release  they  seemed  devoutly  thankful. 

Although  our  guard  was  never  communi- 
cative in  regard  to  the  progress  of  the  war, 
actions  were  far  more  eloquent  than  words. 
We  could  not  fail  to  observe  how  hard  the 
Germans  were  being  pushed  for  men.  When 
we  were  first  imprisoned,  strapping  young 
soldiers  swarmed  everywhere,  swaggering 
with  true  Prussian  arrogance,  flushed  with 
the  first  smell  of  blood  and  disposed  to  treat 
us  with  contempt.  Numerically  strong,  they 
watched  us  closely  and  never  hesitated  to  in- 
terfere upon  the  slightest  breach  of  the 
myriad  regulations  which  bound  us.  Evi- 
dently they  considered  "carpeting"  a  British 
prisoner  to  be  a  highly  diverting  amusement. 

One  thing  was  sternly  suppressed.  We 
were  not  permitted  to  collect  in  groups,  no 
matter  how  harmless  our  discussions  might 
be.  There  was  nothing  to  do,  and  the 
prisoners  were  naturally  apt  to  gather  in 

112 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

this  manner  to  give  expression  to  individual 
theories,  to  air  speculations  concerning  the 
future,  or  to  discuss  the  topics  of  the  hour. 
As  we  gathered  the  guard  would  watch  us 
closely,  and  when  the  party  assumed  undue 
proportions,  it  would  advance  and  disperse 
us  roughly,  taking  care  to  send  us  in  different 
directions.  This  unceasing  surveillance  be- 
came almost  intolerable  at  one  juncture.  It 
was  at  the  time  when  Italy's  decision  hung 
in  the  balance.  Evidently  the  Germans,  some 
time  before  Italy  made  her  choice  publicly 
known,  were  fully  aware  that  she  would  cast 
her  lot  with  that  of  the  Allies.  We  heard  all 
about  it  and  as  may  be  supposed  discussed 
the  situation  very  animatedly. 

The  authorities,  impressed  by  our  openly 
declared  pro-Italian  sympathy,  tightened  up 
the  regulations.  Evidently  they  anticipated 
a  manifestation  of  exuberant  ''mafficking" 
on  our  part  when  the  momentous  decision 
was  reached  by  Italy,  for  they  issued  a  warn- 
ing that  should  there  be  the  slightest  display 
of  jubilation,  we  should  be  severely  punished, 
both  collectively  and  individually.  They  did 
not  give  us  any  idea  of  the  projected  fate 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

in  store  for  us  in  such  an  event,  but  contented 
themselves  w^ith  uttering  dark  threats  and 
ominous  hints. 

Hov^ever,  v^e  v^ere  not  to  be  intimidated, 
although  we  unanimously  decided  that,  on 
behalf  of  the  camp  as  a  whole,  we  would  re- 
frain from  any  public  demonstration.  We 
would  have  a  junketing  within  our  barracks 
after  the  guards  had  sounded  "lights  out." 
To  this  end  there  ensued  a  heavy  run  upon 
spaghetti.  Every  available  ounce  of  this 
national  Italian  comestible  was  greedily  ac- 
quired, and  we  were  able  to  amass  impressive 
stores  with  which  we  regaled  ourselves  joy- 
ously and  handsomely  upon  the  night  when 
Italy  announced  her  intentions.  It  was  a 
clandestine  "maffick,*'  but  all  the  more  ex- 
uberant because  we  had  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  we  had  outwitted  the  authori- 
ties completely. 

As  the  weeks  wore  on,  we  noticed  that  the 
guard  was  more  frequently  changed,  that 
older  and  older  men  were  successively  dele- 
gated to  the  duty  of  mounting  watch  over  us, 
and  that  the  numerical  strength  of  the  mili- 
tary    wardens     was     rapidly     undergoing 

114 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

marked  diminution.  This  circumstance  im- 
pressed us  more  than  anything  else,  and  our 
spirits  rose.  As  the  number  of  soldiers  de- 
creased, the  barrier  which  had  existed  be- 
tween captors  and  captives  became  whittled 
down  until  it  disappeared  altogether. 

The  older  soldiers  regarded  the  situation 
from  a  different  point  of  view  than  the 
younger  men.  They  had  been  torn  from 
their  homes  and  businesses,  and  were  in- 
wardly opposed  to  the  war.  They  nursed  no 
resentment  against  us;  indeed,  they  were 
communicative,  affable  and  ready  to  perform 
any  small  duty  to  ingratiate  themselves  with 
us.  We  saw  we  were  gaining  a  moral  ascen- 
dancy over  them,  and  did  not  hesitate  to 
profit  by  it.  At  the  same  time  we  were  very 
careful  not  to  tilt  against  the  windmill  of 
officialdom,  for  we  realized  that  the  less  we 
inconvenienced  our  wardens  the  easier 
would  be  our  lot.  When  at  last  we  decided 
that  the  moment  had  arrived  for  us  to  essay 
to  take  over  the  camp  and  become  respon- 
sible for  its  administration,  the  authorities, 
impressed  by  our  record  of  docility  and 
knowing  that  we  were  a  well-ordered  and 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

law-abiding  community,  placed  no  obstacles 
in  our  way.  This  was  a  distinct  concession, 
for  there  were  many  anomalies  and  short- 
comings, if  not  actual  hardships,  demanding 
immediate  redress,  which  we  could  effect 
among  ourselves  but  which  the  authorities 
would  not  consider  for  a  moraent. 

We  decided  to  run  the  camp,  so  far  as  the 
limitations  would  permit,  in  accordance  with 
British  traditions,  and  to  establish  British 
practice  and  method,  right  in  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country.  A  complete  transforma- 
tion was  wrought.  The  guards  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  we  were  not  such  bad  fellows 
after  all.  We  reciprocated  the  sentiment 
with  the  result  that  although  our  wardens 
were  changed  frequently,  we  always  main- 
tained our  superiority.  It  evidently  became 
noised  among  the  soldiers  that  looking  after 
the  British  prisoners  was  a  soft  and  lucrative 
job.  As  the  economic  situation  within  Ger- 
many grew  worse,  the  animosity  against  us 
diminished  almost  to  zero,  the  soldiers 
rightly  concluding  that  they  had  everything 
to  gain  and  nothing  to  lose  from  cultivating 
our  friendship,  although  now  and  again  an 

ii6 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Upstart,  upon  his  arrival,  would  attempt  to 
parade  his  arrogance  and  authority. 

So  far  as  the  authorities  were  concerned 
they  never  wanted  to  be  bothered;  it  was  the 
system,  and  not  the  individual,  which  had  to 
be  taken  into  consideration.  Moreover,  we 
were  unremitting  in  our  determination  to 
suppress  all  attempts  at  open  defiance  and 
lawlessness  among  ourselves,  and  if  we  could 
not  control  one  of  our  number,  we  speedily 
escorted  him  to  the  authorities  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  the  nature  of  his  offence. 
The  officers  themselves  expressed  their  ap- 
proval of  our  methods,  and  when  forced  to 
intervene,  did  so  with  reluctance. 

When  we  received  permission  to  govern 
ourselves  we  decided  that  we  could  not  do 
better  than  to  inaugurate  a  communal  con- 
trol based  upon  the  broad  practice  followed 
by  every  city  and  town  at  home.  The  office 
of  mayor  devolved  upon  the  captain  of  the 
camp,  who  was  recognized  as  the  sole  inter- 
mediary between  the  prisoners  and  the  Ger- 
man authorities.  All  complaints  had  to  be 
made  through  him  and  his  decision  was  final. 
If  he  conceded  a  complaint  was  well  founded, 

iiy 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

he  passed  it  on  to  the  proper  quarter.  This 
move  was  greatly  appreciated  by  the  Ger- 
mans, for  it  protected  them  from  many  petty 
annoyances  and  imaginary  worries;  and 
within  a  short  time,  they  conceded  that  any 
complaint  which  reached  them  through  the 
camp's  captain  was  legitimate  enough  to  de- 
mand investigation  or  it  would  never  have 
reached  them.  Then  each  barrack  elected  a 
captain,  who  in  turn  was  responsible  for  the 
good  conduct,  welfare  and  cleanliness  of  the 
members  resident  therein,  and  he  again  acted 
as  the  channel  for  all  complaints  between  the 
prisoners  in  his  barrack  and  the  captain  of 
the  camp. 

The  system  worked  with  wonderful 
smoothness  and  satisfaction  to  one  and  all. 
Certainly  it  contributed  in  a  very  great  meas- 
ure to  the  high  reputation  which  Ruhleben 
achieved  among  the  authorities.  Once  the 
g-overnment  was  established  we  put  our 
shoulders  to  the  wheels  of  progress  and  so- 
cial reform  to  improve  our  position,  in  which 
direction  we  also  achieved  so  many  wonders 
as  to  earn  approbation  from  our  wardens. 
All  things  considered  we  were  given  a  toler- 

Ji8 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ably  free  hand,  no  appreciable  opposition  to 
our  projects  being  offered  so  long  as  we  were 
prepared  to  defray  the  total  financial  expen- 
diture incurred.  Naturally,  every  suggestion 
had  to  be  submitted  to  the  authorities,  but 
they  refrained  from  exerting  more  than  a 
fatherly  jurisdiction  over  our  operations. 

The  reform  proposals  were  so  comprehen- 
sive and  diverse  as  to  necessitate  the  forma- 
tion of  a  host  of  committees,  each  of  which 
was  responsible  for  the  work  that  came  with- 
in its  sphere  of  influence.  Thus  we  had  edu- 
cational, theatrical,  trading,  training  and 
numberless  other  committees,  and  I  doubt  if 
any  municipal  community  at  home  could 
point  to  such  a  record  of  industry  and  inde- 
fatigable labor  as  characterized  the  straight- 
ening out  of  affairs  in  this  internment  camp. 
Among  these  varied  committees  was  one  of 
special  significance.  We  could  do  practically 
nothing  without  money.  There  was  plenty 
of  it  in  the  camp,  so  the  first  essential  action 
was  the  establishment  of  a  sound  financial 
system  to  enable  the  public  works  to  be 
carried  promptly  through  to  success. 

To  this  end  was  inaugurated  what  might 

up 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

be  called  the  Common  Fund,  which  was 
kept  going  by  contributions  from  every  con- 
ceivable source  of  revenue,  such  as  profits 
on  trading,  amusements  and  other  diverse 
occupations  and  recreations.  When  it  was 
decided  to  establish  inter-trading  within  the 
camp,  private  enterprise  was  not  generally 
favored,  for  it  was  thought  that  this  would 
tend  toward  exploitation  of  the  majority  to 
the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  minority.  Brief 
experience,  as  I  shall  show  later,  suf^ced  to 
justify  our  fears  in  a  conclusive  manner. 

Communal  trading  was  one  of  the  first 
projects  to  be  attacked  in  grim  earnest.  At 
first,  those  who  desired  to  supplement  of- 
ficial rations  by  purchase  of  luxuries,  not 
obtainable  from  the  canteen,  were  compelled 
to  patronize  a  tiny  cramped  stall  known  as 
"Pondside  Stores,"  to  the  benefit  of  its 
proprietor,  a  German  woman.  When  we  took 
over  the  administration  of  the  camp,  a  row 
of  shops  was  built  and  paid  for  out  of  the 
Common  Fund.  As  a  reminder  of  home,  this 
shopping  thoroughfare  was  facetiously 
christened  Bond  Street,  and  the  square  at 
one  end  of  it  was  called  Trafalgar  Square. 

120 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Each  shop  was  set  aside  for  a  specific  enter- 
prise, such  as  dry  goods,  provisions,  tailor- 
ing and  outfitting.  The  responsible  govern- 
ment purchased  and  maintained  the  stocks 
for  these  establishments,  purchasing  from 
German  houses,  and  also  provided  capable 
managers  and  assistants,  who  were  paid  five 
shillings  a  week  from  the  Common  Fund. 

The  government  was  responsible  for  the 
purchase  and  selling  prices  of  the  various 
commodities — the  profit  on  the  goods  was 
settled  by  a  committee — and  brisk  trading 
soon  caused  the  Fund  to  grow  rapidly.  The 
majority  of  the  prisoners  either  received  re- 
mittances from  home  or  a  weekly  allowance 
from  a  fund  controlled  by  the  American 
Embassy,  while  there  were  also  many  in 
the  camp  well  blessed  with  the  sinews  of 
war,  owing  to  the  indiscriminate  manner  in 
which  the  British  element  in  the  country 
had  been  rounded  up  and  interned.  By  the 
time  I  left  Ruhleben,  the  Fund  had  grown 
to  impressive  proportions.  The  transactions 
within  the  camp  amounted  to  thousands  of 
pounds  within  the  year. 

Although  profits  were  cut  fine  and  business 

J^I 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

conducted  on  the  "small  profits,  quick  re- 
turns" basis,  the  annual  aggregate  balance 
was  somewhat  startling.  It  was  co-opera- 
tive trading  upon  a  big  scale  and  pursued 
under  peculiar  conditions,  but  no  one  could 
doubt  its  success.  This  big  favorable  bal- 
ance on  the  commercial  and  amusement  un- 
dertakings furnished  funds  for  a  variety  of 
other  purposes.  One  salient  feature  charac- 
terized Ruhleben  life — nothing  was  free; 
every  enterprise  was  drawn  up  to  ensure  a 
profit.  When  the  German  authorities  real- 
ized the  extent  of  our  inter-trading  opera- 
tions, they  divined  a  source  of  fruitful  reve- 
nue and  accordingly  insisted  that  they  should 
receive  a  commission  of  7^  per  cent  upon 
the  turnover.  This  amounted  to  quite  a  re- 
spectable figure — ''bunce"  for  Germany,  we 
termed  it — and  due  precautions  were  taken 
to  see  that  the  uttermost  farthing  was  raked 
in.  Among  the  prisoners  was  a  chartered 
accountant,  and  he  assumed  responsibility 
for  the  camp  government's  books.  This  was 
an  imposing  task  in  itself;  and  the  poor  man 
often  worked  far  into  the  night  to  keep  pace 
with  the  commercial  transactions.    Gompe- 

122 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tent  bookkeeping  was  imperative,  for  the  ac- 
counts had  to  be  referred  periodically  to  the 
authorities,  who,  in  turn,  submitted  them  to 
Berlin,  where  they  were  audited  by  fully 
qualified  officials  and  the  sum  due  the  Ger- 
man administration  duly  appraised.  It  was 
galling  to  think  that  we,  as  civilian  pris- 
oners of  war,  were  inadvertently  giving 
financial  aid  to  the  Teuton  military  machine, 
but  it  was  a  condition  that  we  could  not 
escape. 

The  Common  Fund  proved  an  inestimable 
boon  to  the  community  as  a  whole,  particu- 
larly in  connection  with  provisions.  Many 
of  the  prisoners  were  denied  parcels  from 
home  because  their  families  could  not  afford 
to  send  them;  and  these  depended  entirely 
upon  the  provision  shop  within  the  camp,  and 
then  could  not  get  what  they  wanted  if  the 
price  rose  above  a  certain  figure.  Thus,  but- 
ter, owing  to  the  blockade,  began  to  rise 
ominously,  until  it  notched  4s.  2d.  per  pound 
in  Berlin.  It  looked  as  if  the  poorer  among 
us  would  have  to  go  without  this  article  of 
food;  but  the  problem,  was  neatly  adjusted. 
The  trading  committee  was  not  saddled  with 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  entire  cost;  instead  a  certain  sum  was 
set  aside  from  the  Common  Fund  toward  its 
purchase;  and  this  contribution  not  being 
repayable,  actually  constituted  a  gift  toward 
the  purchase.  The  trading  committee,  in  de- 
ciding the  selling  price  of  any  article,  based 
its  figure  upon  the  outlay,  and,  so  far  as 
butter  was  concerned  this  was  reduced  to  the 
extent  of  the  free  contribution.  As  a  result, 
the  butter  was  sold  in  the  camp  at  a  price 
far  below  what  it  actually  cost  in  Berlin. 
Butter  steadily  became  scarcer,  however,  and 
the  price  rose  accordingly  until  the  Fund  gift 
lost  its  significance.  The  gift  could  not  be 
increased  indefinitely  except  at  the  expense 
of  other  objects  equally  vital;  and  finally 
butter  became  obtainable  by  only  a  chosen 
few.  The  retail  price  in  Germany  at  the  be- 
ginning of  1917  reached  12s.  per  pound,  and 
even  at  this  figure,  very  little  was  to  be  had. 
The  Common  Fund  also  played  an  impor- 
tant part  in  maintaining  another  equally 
important  subsidiary  fund.  This  was  one 
inaugurated  wholly  and  solely  for  necessi- 
tous prisoners,  not  a  charity  but  essentially 
a  businesslike  proposition.     To  derive  any 

124 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

benefit  from  this  fund,  a  prisoner  had  to  re- 
ciprocate with  his  labor.  There  were  many 
among  us  "broke  to  the  wide/'  from  circum- 
stances over  which  they  had  no  control.  If 
they  felt  disposed  to  work  they  were  insured 
a  small  wage,  running  up  to  five  shillings 
weekly,  pocket  money  that  enabled  them  to 
make  purchases  contributing  to  their  crea- 
ture comforts. 

Although  we  made  every  effort  to  secure 
regular  supplies  the  fates  were  invariably 
against  us.  For  instance,  a  consignment  of 
bread  would  come  in  on  Tuesday,  butter  on 
Wednesday,  milk  on  Thursday  and  so  on. 
The  moment  supplies  arrived,  they  were  an- 
nounced; thus,  on  Tuesday,  everyone  was 
informed  "Bread  In,"  while  other  commodi- 
ties were  advertised  in  a  similar  fashion  upon 
their  respective  days.  Upon  being  notified, 
the  prisoners  would  line  up  in  a  long  queue 
outside  of  the  shop  in  question.  The  stock 
was  so  severely  limited  that  it  was  generally 
exhausted  within  two  or  three  hours. 

This  system  possessed  certain  shortcom- 
ings. Those  who  were  flush  of  funds  imme- 
diately purchased  what  they  required,  while 

1^5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

those  who  were  dependent  upon  their  weekly- 
wage,  which  was  paid  on  the  Friday,  had  to 
go  without,  all  business  in  the  camp  being 
conducted  on  the  "cash"  principle.  There- 
fore, to  ensure  a  more  equitable  distribution 
of  supplies,  a  few  of  the  more  affluent  pris- 
oners would  club  together  to  make  big  pur- 
chases of  the  indispensable  comestibles,  and 
hold  them  over  until  the  less  fortunate  drew 
their  wages.  The  latter  could  then  buy  what 
they  wanted  at  precisely  the  same  price  as 
if  they  had  presented  themselves  at  the 
shops. 

Among  our  various  enterprises  was  the 
establishment  of  a  newspaper.  A  typewriter 
was  secured,  and  an  unpretentious  daily 
sheet  was  prepared.  When  we  secured  a 
duplicator  we  were  able  to  reel  out  copies  by 
the  score.  For  the  most  part  the  contents 
were  drawn  from  the  German  press,  supple- 
mented by  items  and  gossip  of  local  interest. 
This  enterprise  subsequently  developed  into 
a  magazine,  published  at  irregular  intervals, 
printed  in  Berlin,  at  our  expense,  to  which 
the  talent  of  the  camp,  pen,  pencil  and  brush, 
freely  contributed,  and  which  periodically,  it 

126 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

may  be  explained,  constitutes  a  faithful  mir- 
ror of  life  in  the  internment  camp,  and  the 
irrepressible  Mark  Tapleyism  of  the  British 
race  under  the  most  distressing  conditions. 
It  is  a  witty  and  live  magazine,  all  profits 
from  which  go  into  the  Common  Fund. 

While  British  newspapers  were  distinctly 
verhoten  we  were  permitted  to  purchase 
German  publications,  which  were  brought 
in  daily,  and  sold  by  a  German  girl.  For  the 
most  part,  the  Teuton  papers  comprised  the 
Berliner  Tagehlatt  and  ^' Aunt  Voss,"*  of 
which  last,  rumor  had  it,  special  editions 
were  prepared  for  our  express  edification,  but 
to  the  truth  of  this  statement  I  cannot  tes- 
tify. Delivery  was  not  exactly  regular;  and 
as  the  newsgirl  had  plenty  of  patronage  we 
could  not  understand,  at  first,  her  apparent 
indifference  to  trade.  Later,  we  discovered 
that  all  of  the  papers  were  submitted  to  rigid 
censoring  before  they  could  be  brought  into 
the  camp,  and  if  they  contained  a  line  con- 
cerning a  British  success  of  arms,  they  were 
prohibited.  By  such  action,  the  authorities 
doubtlessly  hoped  to  keep  us  in  ignorance  of 
British  military  developments,  but,  once  hav- 

127 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ing  gleaned  the  reason  for  the  non-appear- 
ance of  the  papers,  we  naturally  measured 
British  successes  by  the  days  on  which  the 
news-sheets  were  not  forthcoming.  As  time 
went  on  and  the  number  of  blanks  increased, 
we  rightly  concluded  that  the  German  army 
was  receiving  a  series  of  jolts  which  it  did 
not  relish.  Consequently,  by  forbidding  the 
papers,  the  Teutons  defeated  their  own  ends. 
Although  we  were  somewhat  in  the  dark  as 
to  the  magnitude  of  the  British  achievements 
we  were  free  to  speculate  on  the  subject. 

One  day  a  huge  bundle  of  newspapers  was 
brought  into  camp,  and  to  our  astonishment 
they  were  freely  distributed  among  the  pris- 
oners who  quickly  gathered  around.  That 
the  authorities  should  present  us  with  copies 
of  a  newspaper  hot  from  the  press  was  an 
outburst  of  magnanimity  which  quite  over- 
whelmed us,  and  our  delight  became  intensi- 
fied when  we  read  the  title,  Continental 
Times.  We  supposed  this  to  be  a  continental 
edition  of  the  eminent  British  daily  and  we 
grabbed  the  profered  copies  with  eager  de- 
light. But  when  we  dipped  into  the  contents ! 
Phew !    The  howl  of  rage  that  went  up  and 

128 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  invectives  that  v^ere  hurled  to  the  four 
winds  startled  even  the  guard.  At  first  we 
thought  the  venerable  Old  Lady  of  Printing 
House  Square  had  become  bereft,  since  the 
paper  was  crammed  from  beginning  to  end 
with  pro-German  propaganda  of  an  amazing 
and  incredible  description. 

It  was  a  cunning  move  but  so  shallow  as 
to  merely  provoke  sarcasm.  Time  after  time 
that  offensive  sheet  was  brought  into  camp 
and  given  away;  but  on  each  occasion  we 
subjected  it  to  the  grossest  indignities  we 
could  conceive.  What  it  cost  the  authorities 
to  endeavor  to  deceive  us  in  this  way  is  only 
known  to  themselves,  but  it  was  a  ghastly 
fiasco.  Truly,  the  Teuton  is  strangely 
warped  in  his  psychology. 

Yet,  at  intervals,  the  British  press  pro- 
voked just  as  an  acute  exasperation  among 
the  prisoners  at  Ruhleben  as  the  distorted 
statements  and  fabrications  of  their  German 
contemporaries.  One  London  daily  almost 
precipitated  a  riot  in  the  camp  with  an  article 
entitled,  "Work-shys  at  Ruhleben,"  in  con- 
nection with  a  report  issued  by  the  American 
Ambassador  in  Berlin  dealing  with  a  special 

I2Q 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  official  visit  to  the  camp.  This  glaring 
title  created  a  feeling  of  intense  bitterness, 
and  even  the  Germans  laughed  at  the  distor- 
tion and  imagination  of  the  British  scribes. 
The  article  was  undoubtedly  inspired  by  the 
fact  that  the  poorer  prisoners  w^orked  dili- 
gently all  day  while  others  amused  them- 
selves on  the  tennis  courts  and  football  field; 
but  the  statements  betrayed  a  complete 
ignorance  of  local  conditions  and  of  the 
organization  of  the  camp.  There  are  no 
"work-shys"  at  Ruhleben,  but  there  are  men 
who  work  from  choice  and  necessity  to  se- 
cure the  weekly  salary  of  five  shillings,  paid 
out  of  the  Common  Fund.  Work  is  pur- 
posely created  to  keep  these  unfortunate 
compatriots  in  the  position  to  secure  one  or 
two  luxuries  and  comforts  which  would 
otherwise  be  impossible.  Even  those  who 
play  tennis  and  football  indirectly  create 
work,  as  the  courts  and  field  have  to  be  kept 
in  condition,  while  those  who  indulge  contri- 
bute freely  to  the  Common  Fund. 

An  equally  fantastic  statement  in  another 
British  weekly  caused  an  uproar.  It  was 
stated  in  all  seriousness  that  one  man  had 

130 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

been  able  to  send  home  £17,  which,  so  it  in- 
sinuated, he  had  made  at  the  expense  of  his 
colleagues.  This  story,  upon  its  iteration 
in  camp,  provoked  a  serious  situation,  for 
the  man  in  question  was  receiving  five  shil- 
lings a  week  from  the  Common  Fund,  and 
he  certainly  was  not  in  the  position  to  remit 
to  England  the  sum  of  £17.  Such  will-o'-the- 
wisp  stories  work  far-reaching  damage  and 
seriously  affect  the  smooth  working  of  the 
community.  It  may  seem  strange,  but  such 
"yarns*'  as  these  reached  the  camp  within  a 
very  few  hours  of  their  publication,  how,  no 
one  seemed  to  know.  As  we  were  powerless 
to  refute  them  we  were  compelled  to  suffer 
in  silence,  while  the  British  public,  owing  to 
the  absence  of  any  contradiction,  is  disposed 
to  accept  such  statements  as  true.  Moreover, 
such  wild  and  fictitious  assertions  adversely 
affect  the  status  of  the  British  press  in  Ger- 
man eyes.  The  latter,  knowing  the  true 
state  of  affairs,  smile  contentedly,  and  hav- 
ing discovered  these  fabrications,  logically 
assume  the  remainder  of  the  intelligence 
published  in  British  papers  to  be  equally  un- 
trustworthy.    Gross  misstatements  of  fact 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

published  in  the  British  press,  gathered 
from  irresponsible  sources,  more  seriously 
threaten  the  equanimity  and  orderliness  of 
the  British  internment  camp  at  Ruhleben 
than  the  wildest  assertions  in  the  German 
papers.  The  latter  are  expected;  the  former 
are  construed  as  outrage. 


^3^ 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BENEFITS  OF  THE  COMMUNE 

The  food  issue  at  Ruhleben  has  ever  been 
one  of  the  most  discussed  questions  and  the 
cause  of  the  gravest  discontent  among  the 
prisoners.  Milkless  and  sugarless  acorn  cof- 
fee, black  bread,  and  unappetizing  soups  of 
little  nourishing  value,  cannot  by  any  stretch 
of  the  imagination  be  construed  into  a  decent 
physical  maintenance  diet.  When  the  eco- 
nomic situation  in  Germany  was  compara- 
tively easy,  the  average  menu,  so  far  as  the 
midday  meal  was  concerned,  might  be  set 
down  as  soup — pea  and  cabbage  predominat- 
ing— for  three  or  four  days  of  the  week, 
while  on  the  other  days  we  received  such 
fare  as  rice  and  prunes,  or  rice  and  sausage. 
On  Sundays  we  might  be  rewarded  with  a 
small  piece  of  meat,  potatoes  and  gravy,  gar- 
nished with  a  small  portion  of  sauerkraut, 

133 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  last  by  way  of  a  great  treat.  After  the 
kitchen  was  taken  over  by  the  prisoners 
themselves,  we  sometimes  received  a  small 
bun  or  other  trifling  delicacy,  if  such  it  could 
be  called,  for  tea,  but  only  on  rare  occasions. 

At  intervals,  fish  was  served,  but  this  was 
so  vile  that  it  was  invariablv  declined.  It 
was  quite  unpalatable  owing  to  the  brine, 
and  moreover  was  generally  in  an  advanced 
state  of  decomposition,  which  apparently  had 
suffered  suspension  owing  to  prodigal  treat- 
ment with  salt.  Even  the  sailors,  who  were 
considered  to  be  the  least  fastidious  about 
their  food,  would  refuse  the  dish. 

When  we  received  permission  to  run  the 
camp  ourselves  one  of  our  first  actions  was 
to  obtain  control  of  the  kitchen.  We  saw 
scope  for  many  reforms  but  were  rather 
doubtful  as  to  whether  the  authorities  would 
allow  us  to  take  this  issue  in  hand.  To  our 
surprise  they  offered  no  objection.  The  com- 
missariat was  at  that  time  in  the  hands  of  a 
contractor  who  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most 
despicable  of  Teuton  rascals,  nothing  less 
than  a  profiteer,  pure  and  simple.  The  food 
grew  worse  and  worse  in  spite  of  the  com- 

134 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

plaints  that  were  lodged  almost  daily.  Those 
at  the  head  of  things  usually  admitted  that 
these  complaints  were  well  founded,  and  os- 
tensibly strove  to  effect  improvements  but 
without  tangible  results. 

I  recall  one  day  when  we  were  compelled 
to  go  without  our  midday  meal.  It  was  one 
of  those  rare  occasions  when  an  officer  from 
Berlin  visited  the  camp.  He  proceeded 
straightway  to  the  kitchen  to  have  a  look 
around.  Fish  was  the  delicacy  in  prepara- 
tion and  he  investigated  it  closely,  and  de- 
livered an  opinion  that  threw  the  kitchen 
staff  into  consternation.  The  fish  was  con- 
demned unequivocally.  The  contractor  pro- 
tested but  soon  realized  that  argument  with 
a  German  official  is  sheer  waste  of  breath. 
The  officer  cut  him  short,  condemned  the 
food  as  totally  unfit  for  human  consumption, 
and  dared  the  contractor  to  serve  out  fish  at 
his  peril.  While  those  of  the  prisoners  who 
witnessed  the  incident  rejoiced  inwardly, 
faces  dropped  at  the  prospect  of  no  meat  be- 
ing forthcoming.  The  officer  turned  to  us 
and  expressed  his  sympathy  at  our  having 
to  go  dinnerless,  but  he  emphatically  declined 

^35 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

to  permit  prisoners  to  be  served  with  such 
vile  food  under  any  consideration.  He  prom- 
ised us  a  good  tea  by  v^ay  of  amends,  and  he 
v^as  as  good  as  his  word.  Not  only  did  he 
have  the  offensive  fish  destroyed  before  his 
eyes,  but  he  waited  to  see  that  we  were  not 
robbed  of  the  rice  and  prunes  that  comprised 
our  tea. 

Our  request  to  control  the  kitchen  extri- 
cated the  authorities  from  a  dilemma.  Com- 
plaints concerning  the  food  had  come  to  a 
pass  that  reduced  them  to  helplessness.  They 
were  as  deeply  incensed  against  the  contrac- 
tor as  we  were,  inasmuch  as  the  government 
was  not  being  given  full  value  for  the  money 
paid  for  our  sustenance.  Time  after  time 
protests  were  lodged  by  the  officials  in 
charge,  but  the  contractor  always  insisted 
that  he  was  serving  us  with  the  very  best 
material  that  he  could  obtain  at  the  price,  and 
that  indifferent  quality  and  quantity  were 
entirely  attributable  to  the  condition  of  af- 
fairs within  the  country.  If  he  could  not  get 
the  foodstuffs,  how  could  he  supply  them  to 
us,  was  his  attitude.  It  was  a  specious  argu- 
ment that  appeared  to  quiet  the  agitation, 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

but  the  officials  knew  quite  as  well  as  we  did 
that  the  rascal  was  merely  exploiting  us  and 
making  money  rapidly  in  the  transaction. 
The  contractor  had  the  best  of  it  until  we 
came  along  with  our  suggestion.  Then  the 
authorities,  seeing  the  opportunity  to  end  his 
contract,  bundled  him  out  neck  and  crop  on 
the  instant,  their  excuse  being  that  we,  the 
prisoners,  had  taken  over  the  entire  under- 
taking and  would  become  responsible  for 
feeding  ourselves.  The  contractor  was  dis- 
posed to  put  up  a  fight,  but  the  German  mili- 
tary have  their  own  peculiar  way  of  settling 
such  affairs  and  we  were  left  in  undisputed 
possession. 

The  moment  we  secured  control  of  the 
kitchen  the  system  was  completely  over- 
hauled. One  of  our  number  was  installed  as 
controller,  while  the  staff  was  similarly  re- 
cruited from  the  ranks  of  the  prisoners.  All 
were  given  the  weekly  wage  of  five  shillings. 
Of  course,  the  members  of  the  staff  were  at 
liberty  to  profit  from  "extras"  so  far  as  they 
could,  and  so  long  as  it  was  not  at  the  ex- 
pense of  any  member  of  the  community,  or 
in  connection  with  the  essential  meals.    For 

^37 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

instance,  such  extras  as  hot  water  at  odd 
times  of  the  day  invariably  earned  a  "tip,"  in 
addition  to  the  official  charge  for  the  article, 
but  inasmuch  as  those  who  rewarded  such 
additional  duties  were  well  able  to  afford  it, 
no  harm  was  done.  It  must  be  admitted  that 
the  kitchen  staff  were  equally  diligent  in 
ministering  to  the  wants  of  the  necessitous 
as  to  those  of  the  more  wealthy.  There  was 
never  the  slightest  discrimination. 

Although  the  "chef"  was  not  permitted  to 
order  what  he  required,  but  was  compelled  to 
utilise  what  the  authorities  provided,  we 
benefited  from  the  superior  preparation  and 
presentation  of  our  meals,  while  the  control- 
ler displayed  wonderful  ingenuity  in  render- 
ing the  less  attractive  foodstuffs  as  appetis- 
ing as  human  endeavor  could  contrive. 
Moreover,  at  times,  we  were  treated  to  un- 
expected and  intensely  appreciated  delights. 
Thus,  for  the  evening  meal  we  might  be 
given  a  dole  of  tea  with  milk  or  sugar,  or 
possibly  the  acorn  coffee  was  rendered  palat- 
able by  the  addition  of  milk  or  sugar — per- 
haps both.  Considering  the  restricted  scale 
of  materials  with  which  the  kitchen  was  sup- 

13S 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANV 

plied,  its  achievements  were  remarkable. 
By  this  time  parcels  were  also  being  re- 
ceived from  home  and  we  consequently  be- 
came more  dependent  upon  food  received  in 
this  manner  than  upon  that  provided  by  the 
authorities.  As  the  prisoners  had  resolved 
themselves  long  since  into  small  cliques,  a 
system  of  division — in  vogue  with  my  par- 
ticular party — was  widely  practised.  The  con- 
tents of  all  the  parcels  addressed  to  the  mem- 
bers of  a  group  were  pooled,  to  be  shared  and 
shared  alike.    The  system  was  simple.    For 

instance,  K would  receive  a  parcel  on 

Monday.  The  member  of  the  party  who  was 
fulfilling  his  spell  of  duty  as  orderly  un- 
packed the  parcel,  noted  the  contents,  and 
attached  the  date  of  receipt  thereto.  The 
more  perishable  foodstuflfs  were  eaten  first. 
On  Tuesday,  a  parcel  would  come  for  me, 
and  this  would  be  treated  in  an  identical 
manner.  The  orderly  would  prepare  the 
meals,  the  menu  varying  according  to  the 
''stocks'*  available,  and  in  this  manner  sup- 
plies were  eked  out  to  supplement,  or  as  a 
substitute  for,  the  official  rations.  The  or- 
derly was  entirely  responsible  for  the  party's 

139 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

commissariat,  the  preparation  of  the  meals, 
the  preservation  of  the  edibles,  and  their  dis- 
tribution from  day  to  day,  during  the  period 
of  his  duty  in  this  connection.  When  his 
term  of  responsibility  was  completed  he 
merely  handed  over  his  stocks  and  records  to 
his  successor.  In  this  w^ay  it  was  possible  to 
transfer  the  responsibility  from  one  to  the 
other  at  a  moment's  notice,  and  that  without 
the  slightest  friction  or  mishap,  and  we  were 
generally  assured  of  some  dainty  every  day. 
As  a  rule  we  confined  the  luxuries  from  home 
to  the  evening  meal,  which  we  considered  in 
the  light  of  a  dinner  or  high  tea.  If  the  par- 
cels destined  for  the  party  arrived  simul- 
taneously, and  we  suffered  from  a  temporary 
glut,  then  the  other  two  meals  of  the  day 
were  supplemented  by  such  luxuries  as  the 
supplies  would  allow. 

By  sharing  out  in  this  manner  all  the  mem- 
bers of  a  party  benefited,  while  those  poorer 
members  who  were  denied  the  receipt  of  a 
parcel  from  home,  owing  to  their  relatives 
not  being  in  the  position  to  extend  such  assis- 
tance, were  not  permitted  to  feel  their  lonely 
position.    The  dainties  were  given  to  them 

140 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

in  the  true  spirit  of  camaraderie  and  they 
did  not  fail  to  extend  acknowledgments  of 
their  thankfulness  in  such  directions  as  they 
could.  In  some  instances,  unfortunately,  a 
more  selfish  practice  prevailed.  I  recall  one 
prisoner  who  was  not  only  flush  in  pocket, 
but  who  received  parcels  with  unfailing  regu- 
larity from  home.  The  assortment  of  dain- 
ties which  came  into  his  hands  was  astonish- 
ing, but  he  was  never  known  to  share  a  crust 
with  a  less  fortunate  comrade.  He  would  sit 
at  the  table  with  a  parade  of  luxuries — 
tongue,  tinned  vegetables  and  fruit,  white 
bread  and  butter — and  gorge  with  sublime 
indifference  to  the  meager  fare  of  his  col- 
leagues who  watched  him  with  longing  eyes 
as  they  made  the  most  of  their  acorn  coffee 
and  hunks  of  black  bread.  I  really  think 
that  had  it  not  been  for  the  generosity  of  the 
more  sympathetic  members  of  the  camp  who 
willingly  distributed  such  tidbits  from  their 
parcels  as  they  could  afford,  such  selfish 
gourmands  as  the  prisoner  in  question  would 
have  been  deprived  of  their  luxuries  by  force. 
But  the  men,  in  spite  of  their  famished  condi- 
tion, exhibited  wonderful  self-control  and  ex- 

141 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

pended  their  indignation  in  other  directions. 
Such  gluttons  were  the  butt  of  increasing 
ridicule,  the  victims  of  practical  joking 
and  objects  of  disgust  throughout  the  camp. 
They  were  harried  from  pillar  to  post,  and 
regarded  as  useless  "black  sheep/*  and  when- 
ever a  request  for  release  was  refused,  the 
howls  of  derisive  delight  which  went  up 
forced  the  unpopular  individual  to  seek  the 
consolation  of  solitude. 

The  communal  government  brought  about 
other  important  changes.  Thus,  under  the 
original  regime,  the  prisoners  had  to  present 
themselves  at  one  place  for  their  meals,  while 
another  cubbyhole  served  as  depot  for  the 
distribution  of  black  bread.  It  was  no  un- 
common event  for  a  prisoner  to  be  compelled 
to  wait  an  hour  or  more  in  the  "bread  line" 
after  a  similar  wait  on  the  kitchen  queue. 
When  the  snow  was  deep  and  the  thermome- 
ter hovering  about  zero,  this  was  a  fearful 
experience  and  many  of  the  men  were  quite 
numb  and  half  senseless  from  the  cold  by  the 
time  they  reached  the  window  and  received 
their  ration. 

This  system  was  changed.     Representa- 

142 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

tion  induced  the  authorities  to  concede  the 
establishment  of  a  bread  depot  in  each  bar- 
rack under  control  of  the  barrack  captain. 
Sufficient  bread  was  fetched  daily  to  ensure 
each  man  in  the  barrack  receiving  his  daily 
ration  of  one-fifth  of  a  loaf.  In  this  way  the 
long  wait  in  the  open  air  was  avoided,  an  in- 
novation which  met  with  widespread  ap- 
proval. This  decentralization  extended  a  fur- 
ther benefit.  Those  prisoners  who  were  in 
receipt  of  regular  supplies  of  bread  from 
home  could  naturally  dispense  with  the  of- 
ficial allowance;  but  the  authorities  were  not 
permitted  to  benefit  from  this  circumstance. 
Each  man  drew  his  ration  and  if  he  did  not 
require  it,  promptly  handed  it  over  to  a  col- 
league who  did. 

Communal  government  also  enabled  the 
postal  system  within  the  camp  to  be  im- 
proved beyond  recognition.  A  post  office  was 
established  in  each  barrack.  The  regulations 
permitted  each  prisoner  to  write  two  four- 
page  letters  and  four  postcards  per  month. 
Naturally,  extreme  care  had  to  be  displayed  to 
keep  within  the  limitations  of  the  censorship, 
which  was  rigorous.    Thus  neither  pen  nor 

^43 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

indelible  pencil  were  permitted.  Only  an 
ordinary  leaden  pencil  could  be  employed, 
enabling  the  censor  to  obliterate  with  eraser 
any  statements  to  which  he  took  exception. 
Also,  the  writing,  especially  on  the  postcards, 
had  to  be  fairly  large,  so  as  to  be  read  with 
ease.  Generally  speaking  the  authorities 
were  very  fair  over  the  postal  material.  If 
the  writing  was  too  small  the  postcard  would 
be  returned  to  the  writer  with  a  note  calling 
attention  to  the  reason  for  its  refusal.  But,  as 
a  rule,  if  the  card  was  reposted,  it  was  per- 
mitted to  pass,  the  authorities  being  satisfied 
that  upon  the  next  occasion  the  writer  would 
comply  wth  the  request  to  write  in  larger 
characters. 

Official  stationery  had  to  be  used  for  both 
letters  and  postcards,  and  this  had  to  be  pur- 
chased by  the  prisoners,  from  a  small  stock 
carried  in  each  barrack  post  office.  We  did 
not  have  to  pay  for  stamps,  in  accordance 
with  the  terms  of  the  Hague  convention 
which  decrees  that  the  correspondence  of 
prisoners  of  war  shall  be  mailed  free. 

The  duties  of  the  postmen  were  well  de- 
fined and  the  system  worked  with  astonish- 

144 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

ing  smoothness.  The  incoming  mail  reached 
the  camp  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  about 
three  o'clock  the  postman  from  each  barrack 
presented  himself  at  the  official  bureau. 
Here  he  secured  all  the  letters  addressed  to 
the  inmates  of  the  barrack  to  which  he  was 
attached.  Returning  to  the  barrack,  the  let- 
ters were  again  sorted,  those  for  the  horse 
boxes  in  one  pile  and  those  for  the  lofts  in 
another.  The  latter  were  handed  over  in  bulk 
to  a  sub-postmaster  attached  to  the  loft, 
who,  when  he  received  his  bag  of  letters,  be- 
came the  center  of  a  clamoring  crowd  of  in- 
mates and  from  his  point  of  vantage  called 
out  the  names  and  delivered  his  mail  on  the 
spot.  The  arrival  of  the  post  in  the  loft  is 
a  unique  memory;  the  overwrought  inmates 
would  loiter  about,  scarcely  able  to  restrain 
their  excited  expectancy  of  a  letter  from 
home,  and  when  the  mail  arrived  there  was 
a  wild  rush  and  frenzied  hubbub  around  the 
postman.  When  a  man's  name  was  called 
he  gave  a  yell  of  triumph,  seized  the  letter, 
and,  almost  mad  with  delight,  tore  the  en- 
velope into  shreds  to  secure  the  contents, 
which  he  read  and  re-read  with  a  joy  that  is 

145 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

indescribable.  The  saddest  sight  was  the  de- 
jection upon  the  faces  of  those  for  whom  no 
letter  had  come.  They  would  slouch  to  some 
quiet  corner  almost  on  the  verge  of  collapse, 
and  sit  there  moping,  and  even  give  way  to 
tears  over  the  bitter  disappointment.  A  letter 
from  the  homeland,  no  matter  from  whom 
it  came — relative,  friend  or  stranger — acted 
as  a  tonic  of  the  most  bracing  description. 
It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  mail  is  the 
solitary  frail  link  with  Britain,  and  if  those 
at  home  could  possibly  take  a  peep  at  a  bar- 
rack when  the  mail  comes  in,  they  would  not 
fail  to  be  so  impressed  by  the  vivid  contrast 
of  unrest:*ained  delight  and  utter  dejection, 
that  they  would  undertake  to  write  a  note, 
no  matter  how  brief,  to  at  least  one  prisoner 
every  day.  It  is  the  one  vehicle  for  trans- 
porting a  prisoner  from  the  deep  miseries  of 
Hades  to  the  delights  of  Paradise. 

Downstairs,  among  the  horse  boxes,  we 
were  quick  to  seize  upon  any  and  every 
little  tradition  linked  with  home,  to  convey 
the  illusion  of  being  in  Britain  instead  of  a 
German  prison  camp.  The  letters  were 
sorted  out  and  grouped  according  to  the  in- 

146 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

mates  of  each  box.  Then  a  box-to-box  de- 
Hvery  was  practiced.  The  postman  went  his 
round  with  his  bag,  gave  the  familiar  re- 
sounding rat-a-tat-tat,  and  when  the  door 
was  opened,  handed  the  missives  to  their 
rightful  owners  or  left  them  in  charge  of  the 
orderly.  The  pleasing  fiction  not  only  af- 
forded us  infinite  amusement  but  contribu- 
ted materially  to  the  success  of  our  organi- 
zation. 

Collection  was  also  made  daily.  The  let- 
ters were  posted  in  the  barrack  pillar  box  and 
duly  cleared  by  the  postman.  He  kept  a 
register  of  the  names  of  the  inmates  of  each 
barrack  and  the  posting  of  each  letter  or  card 
was  recorded.  This  was  done  for  two  rea- 
sons. In  the  first  place  it  offered  evidence 
of  posting,  and  secondly,  it  enabled  us  to  keep 
within  the  rules,  since  the  postman  was  able 
to  see,  by  referring  to  his  records,  whether 
a  writer  was  sending  more  than  the  per- 
mitted number  during  the  month.  If  the 
communication  was  in  excess,  it  was  re- 
turned to  the  sender  to  be  re-posted  at  a  later 
date  if  he  felt  so  inclined. 

The  letters  were  then  taken  to  the  official 

^47 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY, 

bureau  and  surrendered  to  the  authorities. 
The  latter  also  kept  a  register,  which  was 
religiously  maintained,  to  keep  check  upon 
each  prisoner's  dispatches,  their  number,  and 
dates  of  mailing.  By  initiating  our  system  we 
saved  the  authorities  considerable  trouble,  as 
it  was  quite  impossible  to  smuggle  through  a 
letter  or  card  over  the  proper  number.  In- 
deed, we  suppressed  all  endeavors  in  this  di- 
rection, since  otherwise  continuous  and  bitter 
friction  would  have  prevailed  between  the 
authorities  and  the  prisoners.  After  having 
been  received  by  the  authorities,  the  letters 
were  passed  on  to  the  censor,  and  upon  meet- 
ing with  his  approval  were  dispatched  to  the 
homeland.  All  correspondence  was  subject 
to  one  official  rule — it  was  detained  in  the 
camp  for  ten  days  after  posting,  for  ''mili- 
tary reasons."  Consequently  it  takes  from 
three  weeks  to  a  month  for  a  letter  to  pass 
between  a  prisoner  and  home.  I  might  men- 
tion that,  although  restrictions  are  imposed 
concerning  the  number  of  communications 
which  shall  be  sent  by  a  prisoner  during  the 
month,  there  are  no  limitations  as  to  the 
number  received. 

148 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Despite  the  enormous  volume  of  corre- 
spondence handled,  I  must  confess  that 
losses  of  letters,  so  far  as  I  can  testify  from 
my  period  of  incarceration,  were  very  few 
and  far  between.  The  authorities  were  ex- 
ceedingly fair  and  straightforward. 

The  system  of  handling  the  prisoners'  par- 
cels was  also  free  from  criticism,  although  it 
naturally  underwent  improvement  when  we 
were  able  to  participate  in  the  scheme.  The 
authorities  provided  a  special  siding  at  Span- 
dau  in  which  the  vehicles  laden  with  our 
goods  were  shunted.  These  trucks  were 
cleared  once  a  day,  a  special  cart  being  re- 
tained in  the  camp  for  their  transference 
from  rail  to  the  official  bureau.  While 
horses  sometimes  served  for  haulage,  upon 
other  occasions  the  prisoners  themselves 
were  recruited  to  serve  in  this  capacity,  but 
this  was  a  task  which  was  shouldered  will- 
ingly, as  it  was  to  our  own  benefit.  As  at 
least  4,000  to  8,000— afterwards  from  12,000 
to  15,000 — parcels*  came  to  hand  every 
twenty-four  hours  it  will  be  seen  that  this 
enterprise  was  one  of  considerable  magni- 

*  Parcels  are  now  sent  to  prisoners  in  bulk  through  the 
Central  Organization. — H.  C.  M. 

I4P 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tude,  and  I  must  state,  in  justice  to  the  au- 
thorities, that  every  care  was  taken  of  the 
articles  entrusted  to  them  for  the  prisoners. 
So  far  as  is  known,  very  few  parcels,  from 
the  moment  they  were  taken  over  at  the 
frontier  by  the  Teuton  Government,  were 
ever  lost,  although  some  of  them  reached  the 
camp  in  a  battered  condition  owing  to  indif- 
ferent packing.  In  the  early  days  there  was 
a  slight  outburst  of  indignation.  A  consign- 
ment of  parcels  failed  to  reach  the  camp. 
Their  transportation  had  been  entrusted  to  a 
private  organization — not  of  German  origin 
I  might  mention — which  has  always  made  a 
feature  of  parading  its  celerity  of  dispatch 
and  prompt  delivery.  Nothing  was  heard  of 
the  goods  for  some  weeks.  Then  they  were 
suddenly  discovered,  tucked  away  in  an  odd 
corner  of  one  of  the  firm's  depots.  By  the 
time  these  parcels  reached  the  camp  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  the  contents  were 
inedible.  After  this  experience  the  authori- 
ties decided  to  assume  complete  responsi- 
bility for  the  transit  and  delivery  of  all  goods 
destined  for  the  prisoners,  and  the  system 
has  worked  satisfactorily  ever  since. 

150 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Under  official  administration  our  one  com- 
plaint was  the  tedious  wait  in  the  queue  out- 
side the  parcel  office.  I  have  known  a  pris- 
oner to  wait  three  hours  before  reaching 
the  building.  But  we  succeeded  in  reducing 
the  period  of  waiting  to  a  very  marked  de- 
gree. Every  morning  about  seven  o'clock, 
a  list  of  the  prisoners  for  whom  parcels  had 
arrived  was  written  out  in  alphabetical  order 
and  posted  upon  the  notice  board  enclosing 
the  boiler-house.  Needless  to  say,  prisoners 
expecting  parcels  used  to  gather  round  this 
board  an  hour  or  more  before  the  list  was 
sent  up.  Each  prisoner  would  run  down  the 
announcement  under  the  initial  letter  of  his 
name  and  ascertain  what  there  was  for  him. 
Perhaps  one  or  two,  and  sometimes  even 
more,  were  reported.  He  then  proceeded  to 
the  office,  taking  up  his  position  in  the  queue, 
which  often  stretched  for  several  hundred 
yards.  The  first  duty  was  to  secure  a  ticket 
entitling  him  to  the  parcel.  The  attendant, 
after  making  sure  that  the  request  was  in 
order,  gave  him  a  ticket,  for  which  we  inau- 
gurated a  charge  of  ten  pfennigs  (one  penny) 
— this  was  subsequently  reduced  to  one  half- 

^5^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

penny — which  went  into  the  Common  Fund. 
Receiving  the  ticket  the  prisoner  surren- 
dered one  half  of  it  at  another  window,  thus 
establishing  the  first  link  in  the  chain  of 
claim  and  receipt.  Then  he  presented  him- 
self at  the  window  coinciding  with  his  initial 
to  receive  his  goods. 

All  handling  of  parcels  was  carried  out 
under  military  supervision.  Upon  arrival 
they  were  sorted  out  according  to  the  initial 
letter  of  the  surname  and  placed  in  a  bin  cor- 
respondingly labelled.  Say,  for  instance,  I 
presented  myself  at  the  window.  The  sec- 
ond half  of  my  ticket  was  taken,  and  the 
parcel  for  Mahoney  withdrawn  by  a  soldier 
from  the  "M"  bin.  It  was  brought  to  the 
counter  and  unpacked  before  an  officer.  The 
latter  made  an  examination,  and  no  pro- 
hibited article  being  found,  the  dismantled 
parcel  was  pushed  over  to  me,  and  I  was 
permitted  to  take  it  away.  Once  I  had  sur- 
rendered the  second  half  of  my  ticket  and 
had  received  the  parcel,  all  liability  upon  the 
part  of  the  German  Government  ceased.  If 
any  contraband  were  included  it  was  merely 
confiscated.    The  system  is  simple  and  thor- 

^5^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ough.  No  parcel  is  ever  touched  by  the  au- 
thorities until  it  is  opened  before  the  eyes 
of  the  consignee,  so  that  no  complaints  of 
losses  in  transit  can  be  made. 

We  were  permitted  to  co-operate  to  a 
certain  degree  with  the  authorities  in  hand- 
ling the  parcels,  but  our  staff  was  never  suf- 
fered to  open,  or  to  touch,  the  contents.  The 
result  of  our  action  was  to  expedite  the  clear- 
ing of  the  office,  this  generally  being  accom- 
plished, even  on  the  busiest  days,  in  about 
two  hours,  while  we  always  succeeded  in  cop- 
ing with  all  parcels  upon  the  day  of  receipt. 
In  this  way  we  were  able  to  reduce  the  so- 
journ in  the  queue  to  tolerable  limits.  If  a 
man  took  up  his  position  in  the  waiting 
crowd  and  left  before  his  name  was  called 
and  then  presented  himself  at  a  later  hour, 
he  was  fined  one  penny  for  his  remissness, 
inasmuch  as  he  had  caused  a  certain  amount 
of  trouble.  The  only  exception  to  this  rule 
occurred  when  operations  had  to  be  sus- 
pended to  enable  the  attendant  soldiers  to 
take  their  midday  meal.  Those  who  were 
still  waiting,  say,  at  twelve  o'clock,  were 
commanded  to  re-present  themselves  later, 

^53 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

but  no  fines  were  exacted,  the  consequent 
delay  being  due  to  the  authorities  them- 
selves. 


154 


CHAPTER  IX. 
LIFE   UNDER   THE  COMMUNE 

The  concession  of  self  government,  despite 
the  limitations  imposed  by  the  authorities 
and  the  military  supreme  control,  effected 
one  important  result.  It  caused  us  to  recog- 
nize that  our  future  welfare  depended  in  a 
pronounced  measure  upon  our  individual  and 
collective  efforts.  Restraint  v^as  certainly 
chafing  at  times,  but  occupation  is  an  effect- 
ive gloom-dispeller.  As  time  passed,  we 
could  not  fail  to  feel  the  gradual  relaxation 
of  the  rigid  and  steel-bound  regulations. 
Every  member  of  the  community  was  com- 
pelled to  tacitly  admit  that  he  could  become 
a  useful  member  of  the  community  and  that 
if  everyone  did  his  little  bit,  imprisonment 
would  be  robbed  of  many  of  its  terrors. 

The  authorities  were  quick  to  perceive  our 
amenability  to  law  and  order,  combined  with 

^55 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

adaptability  to  circumstances,  no  matter  how 
depressing  they  might  be.  The  soldiers,  dur- 
ing their  times  of  leisure  and  while  lounging 
within  the  camp,  often  expressed  their  won- 
der at  our  atmosphere  of  joviality  and  ap- 
parent content  as  prisoners.  Making  the 
best  of  things  was  an  attitude  beyond  their 
understanding. 

Crime  was  unknown  in  Ruhleben,  and 
bearing  in  mind  the  cosmopolitan  character 
of  the  four  or  five  thousand  prisoners,  drawn 
from  every  conceivable  class  of  society,  this 
was  certainly  amazing.  More  than  one  of 
our  number  had  "done  time"  in  England,  but 
here  the  predatory  instinct  seemed  to  have 
become  stifled.  Now  and  again  there  was  a 
slight  outbreak  of  lawlessness,  but  these 
were  few  and  quickly  suppressed.  Men  who 
infringed  the  rules  came  to  fear  being  os- 
tracized by  their  comrades  as  much  as,  if  not 
more  than,  being  penalized  by  the  German 
authorities.  Of  course,  devilment  was  re- 
sponsible for  a  certain  amount  of  friction 
with  officialdom,  but  these  manifestations  of 
lawlessness,  if  such  they  may  be  called,  were 
rather  the  direct  and  outward  effect  of  con- 

136 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

finement.  Some  of  the  more  irrepressible 
spirits  had  to  give  vent  to  a  certain  amount 
of  exuberance,  and  at  times  displayed  a 
fiendish  delight  in  thv^arting  authority,  but 
these  were  suppressed  among  ourselves  and 
without  official  interference. 

When  the  military  guard  was  withdrawn 
from  within  the  camp  a  police  force,  recru- 
ited from  the  ranks  of  the  prisoners,  was 
brought  into  being.  Subsequently,  with  the 
coming  of  the  communal  system  of  govern- 
ment, this  self-protection  became  elaborated 
and  established  upon  a  firm  footing.  A  police 
force,  such  as  would  have  done  every  credit 
to  a  small  British  town,  was  created.  It 
was  constituted  upon  the  lines  practised  at 
home,  although  it  may,  perhaps,  be  more 
accurately  likened  to  our  special  constabu- 
lary, introduced  at  the  outbreak  of  war,  see- 
ing that  the  duty  was  quite  honorary.  There 
was  a  "chief,"  with  the  usual  array  of  sub- 
ordinate officers ;  the  force,  when  fully  con- 
stituted, numbering  45  strong.  The  utmost 
care  was  observed  in  selecting  the  right  men 
for  this  peculiar,  and  at  times,  extremely 
delicate  enterprise.    As  a  matter  of  fact,  it 

^57 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

was  regarded  as  a  signal  honor  to  be  selected 
a  policeman,  and  there  was  spirited  competi- 
tion for  a  vacancy  when  it  occurred. 

The  camp  was  patrolled  night  and  day,  the 
constables  after  dark,  proceeding  upon  their 
duties  in  pairs.  The  authorities  readily  as- 
sented to  this  action,  once  its  beneficial  ef- 
fects became  apparent,  and  co-operated  with 
us.  The  insignia  of  office  was  a  blue  and 
white  armlet  worn  round  the  cuff  when  on 
duty,  together  with  a  small  enamel  badge 
carried  in  the  lapel  of  the  coat.  Further- 
more, a  certificate  was  presented  to  each 
member.  In  the  early  days  the  night  work 
was  somewhat  unenviable,  especially  when 
the  weather  was  unkind,  but  directly  sou- 
westers  were  supplied  from  the  Common 
Fund,  defiance  could  be  safely  hurled  at  the 
elements,  even  when  they  were  most  unpro- 
pitious.  For  night  duty  we  were  supplied 
with  a  small  electric  flash-lamp,  but  we  were 
not  allowed  to  carry  a  defensive  weapon  of 
any  description,  not  even  a  baton.  Fortu- 
nately, so  far  as  my  experience  was  con- 
cerned, the  occasion  never  arose  to  display 
force  of  any  description. 

15S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Perhaps  our  system  was  somewhat  unique 
in  one  respect.  We  were  allotted  specific 
terms  of  duty.  The  constable  going  off  duty 
proceeded  to  his  barrack  to  call  the  colleague 
who  was  to  follow  him,  and  accom- 
panied him  to  the  police  station.  The  first- 
named  then  "signed  off,"  and  was  quite  free 
until  his  next  spell  came  round. 

Our  duties  were  of  the  most  varied  des- 
cription. During  the  daytime  we  controlled 
the  queues  which  lined  up  outside  the  shops, 
the  parcel  office,  the  theatre  in  the  evening, 
and  so  on.  We  had  to  see  that  the  many 
regulations  were  obeyed,  especially  at  night- 
time, and  to  conduct  all  those  breaking 
bounds  back  to  their  barracks.  Warnings 
generally  sufficed  to  reveal  to  the  irrepres- 
sible the  folly  of  their  ways,  and  they  in- 
variably accepted  our  suggestion  to  return 
to  their  quarters.  No  one  but  the  police  was 
permitted  to  roam  the  camp  after  the  pre- 
scribed hour,  and  even  the  civil  constabulary 
had  to  acknowledge  the  higher  authority  of 
the  military.  While  patrolling  it  was  by  no 
means  uncommon  for  a  challenge  to  be 
hurled  from  a  soldier  outside,  upon  detecting 

159 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

sign  of  movement  within  the  camp.  ''Poli- 
eeir^  went  the  retort,  to  which  was  returned 
a  cheery  "Good-night!" 

During  the  daytime  our  work  was  some- 
times more  strenuous,  especially  when  the 
water  became  a  nuisance  after  a  severe  rain- 
storm. Then  the  police  set  to  digging  ditches 
to  allow  the  accumulation  to  escape  from  the 
causeways,  and  this  was  no  light  task.  But 
after  the  main  road  was  driven  through  the 
heart  of  the  camp,  the  necessity  of  becoming 
navvies  upon  occasion  was  eliminated. 

We  became  so  effective  in  our  work  that 
the  military  did  not  hesitate  to  call  upon  us 
for  assistance  when  faced  with  a  difficult 
task.  One  of  the  shops  in  the  camp  was 
owned  by  a  German  woman.  She  paid  1,000 
marks — £50 — to  secure  possession,  a  fact 
that  will  convey  an  idea  of  the  commercial 
possibilities  within  the  camp.  But  something 
or  other  went  wrong,  causing  the  military 
to  intervene.  The  cause  I  never  fathomed. 
The  guard  closed  the  woman's  shop  and  then 
bundled  her  out  of  it.  She  was  carrying  a 
valuable  stock,  which  the  military  demanded 
should  be  removed  instantly.    To  ensure  this 

i6o 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

being  done  the  authorities  went  so  far  as  to 
eject  the  contents  themselves,  but  owing  to 
insufficient  strength,  they  called  upon  the 
civil  police  to  lend  a  hand,  the  operations  be- 
ing conducted  under  the  surveillance  of  an 
officer.  The  woman  was  turned  out  of  the 
camp,  lock,  stock  and  barrel,  was  forced  to 
rest  content  with  what  goods  she  could  re- 
cover, and  was  warned  that  if  she  were 
caught  in  the  vicinity  she  would  speedily 
learn  that  German  authority  was  not  to  be 
defied.  The  next  day  the  shop  was  re-opened 
under  entirely  new  management,  with  a  new 
stock. 

While  the  police  within  the  camp  were 
conceded  certain  privileges,  the  boundary 
was  sharply  defined.  Two  incidents  I  can 
recall  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  rigor  of 
Teuton  military  control,  and  the  absolute 
indifference  of  the  authorities  to  any  extenu- 
ating circumstances.  One  afternoon,  while 
returning  to  my  barrack,  I  ran  into  a  col- 
league of  the  force.  He  looked  absolutely 
dejected  and  miserable.  I  undertook  to  re- 
lieve him  of  police  duty  that  night.  Then  he 
narrated  how  he  had  received  a  letter  from 

i6i 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

home  saying  his  father  was  dying.  He  was 
urgently  wanted  to  complete  certain  negotia- 
tions concerning  the  transfer  of  his  father^s 
business  to  him,  the  son.  This  man  had  lived 
in  Germany  nearly  all  his  life,  was  well 
known  in  German  commercial  circles,  and 
the  business  at  stake  was  one  of  consider- 
able importance.  He  asked  permission  to 
return  home  for  a  few  hours,  but  was  put 
off,  though  not  openly  refused,  until  the  final 
decision  of  the  authorities  became  immate- 
rial. His  father  died  while  he  was  awaiting 
a  decision.  What  became  of  the  business 
was  never  known. 

Another  prisoner,  also  a  resident  for  many 
years  in  Germany,  received  a  letter  inform- 
ing him  that  his  wife  was  ill  and  was  not  ex- 
pected to  recover.  She  was  a  German,  but 
at  first  this  fact  did  not  weigh  with  the  au- 
thorities one  iota.  However,  his  persistence 
brought  about  a  certain  degree  of  relaxation. 
The  authorities  would  permit  him  to  return 
home  for  a  day  or  two,  provided  he  defrayed 
the  cost  of  the  journey,  as  well  as  the  travel- 
ling expenses  and  maintenance  of  a  soldier 
who  would  accompany  him  as  escort. 

162 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

"But  I  haven't  a  cent  in  the  camp !''  he  pro- 
tested. "Grant  me  a  pass,  and  I'll  pay  when 
I  return." 

But  authority  would  not  listen.  The  terms 
had  been  stated.  The  prisoner  could  accept 
or  refuse  them  as  he  felt  disposed. 

The  man  was  in  a  quandary,  and  those  of 
us  who  were  familiar  with  the  situation 
feared  that  he  would  become  demented,  as 
he  moped  and  reflected  upon  his  wife's  con- 
dition. Thereupon  we  whipped  round,  made 
a  collection,  secured  sufficient  funds  to  en- 
able him  to  comply  with  the  official  require- 
ments, and  he  departed  home,  radiant  at  our 
expression  of  practical  sympathy,  but  with 
the  soldier  at  his  heels.  He  returned  to  camp 
within  the  specified  time,  but  the  soldier's 
holiday  had  been  a  somewhat  expensive  item, 
the  relaxation  from  rigorous  military  duty 
and  living  being  appreciated  by  the  escort  to 
the  full. 

Gambling  was  strictly  forbidden  in  the 
camp,  and  the  police  were  entrusted  with  the 
difficult  task  of  suppressing  it.  Seeing  that 
cards  were  played  in  the  sanctuary  of  a  pri- 
vate horse  box  or  under  the  protection  of  an 

163 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

outpost,  who  gave  the  alarm  at  the  first 
glimpse  of  the  police,  it  was  impossible  to 
entirely  suppress  this  form  of  amusement. 
At  one  time  gambling  obtained  a  very  firm 
foothold  in  the  camp.  In  many  instances  the 
cards  were  secured  by  some  roundabout  ex- 
pedient; in  others  they  were  homemade  and 
so  diminutive  that  they  could  be  slipped  into 
the  waistcoat  pocket  without  attracting  at- 
tention. 

As  a  rule,  the  most  formidable  misde- 
meanor with  which  we  had  to  contend  was 
drunkenness,  but  as  may  be  imagined,  such 
troubles  were  very  rare  for  the  simple  reason 
that,  owing  to  the  rigid  regulations,  alcohol 
was  difficult  to  procure  within  the  camp. 
Now  and  again  a  bottle  of  whiskey  would  be 
smuggled  in,  at  a  prohibitive  figure.  The 
small  parties  who  were  able  to  get  hold  of 
this  generally  imbibed  freely  if  unwisely,  and 
consequently  brought  themselves  within 
reach  of  the  law.  The  punishment  for 
drunkenness  was  excessively  severe  and  the 
delinquents  as  a  rule  were  not  too  intract- 
able, so  we  generally  succeeded  in  getting 
them  back  to  their  barracks   without   the 

164 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

authorities  becoming  aware  of  their  delin- 
quency. 

But  one  outbreak  brought  its  due  reward. 
Two  of  the  least  orderly  members  of  the 
community  happened  to  hear  that  the  cellars 
of  the  grandstand  were  packed  with  alcoholic 
liquors,  the  property  of  the  restaurant,  and 
reserved  for  use  on  racing  and  gala  days. 
They  broke  into  this  cellar,  went  the  pace  for 
all  they  were  worth,  and  became  disorderly 
and  irresponsible.  The  military  found  them 
wandering  through  the  camp,  and  they  were 
at  once  hauled  off  to  the  guard-room.  Next 
day  they  were  taken  before  the  authorities 
and  promptly  given  the  exemplary  sentence 
of  three  months. 

Although  we  maintained  a  police  force  we 
were  denied  the  right  to  establish  a  magi- 
stracy to  deal  with  even  the  most  trivial  of- 
fences. The  authorities  firmly  denied  us  this 
concession,  maintaining  that  it  would  under- 
mine the  military  supremacy  since  we  na- 
turally would  be  prone  to  regard  a  punish- 
able offence  in  a  different  light  from  that  of 
the  authorities.  Serious  cases  were  promptly 
referred  to  the  civil  authorities  at  Berlin, 

165 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  given  a  trial  according  to  German  judi- 
cial procedure,  and  sentenced  by  a  magi- 
strate. 

I  keenly  appreciated  police  duty  while  I 
was  on  the  force,  since  it  came  as  a  welcome 
break  in  the  daily  round  of  toil,  but  at  last  I 
reluctantly  relinquished  my  connection.  It 
happened  in  this  way.  I  was  on  duty  one 
night  when  I  suddenly  descried  a  man,  fully 
clothed,  slinking  in  the  shadows  and  making 
his  way  toward  the  prison  fence.  I  guessed 
at  once  that  it  was  a  prisoner  attempting  to 
escape,  and  at  the  same  time  realized  the  fu- 
tility of  his  effort.  When  I  accosted  him,  he 
thought  all  was  up.  I  cross-examined  him 
closely  and  he  confessed  his  intentions,  main- 
taining that  internment  was  affecting  him  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  believed  he  would  go 
mad  if  he  stayed  another  night  in  the  bar- 
rack. I  saw  that  the  man's  mind  was  fully 
made  up  and  I  was  between  two  stools :  as  a 
policeman  it  was  part  of  my  duty  to  place 
the  man  under  arrest  and  to  denounce  him  to 
the  authorities,  since  we  were  particularly 
requested  to  suppress — in  fact,  to  report — 
any  attempt.    On  the  other  hand,  I  was  f ret- 

i66 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ting  from  incarceration  as  much  as  he,  and 
as  there  was  not  a  man  among  us  who  would 
not  have  made  a  bolt  for  it  at  the  first  fa- 
vorable opportunity,  I  decided  that  I  should 
be  in  error  if  I  performed  my  ostensible  duty. 

Observing  the  man's  excited  condition  I 
prevailed  upon  him  to  return  to  his  barrack 
and  to  lie  down,  otherwise,  if  he  were  not 
careful,  he  would  be  prostrated  with  illness. 
He  demurred  at  first,  but  when  I  explained 
to  him  that  he  was  not  in  a  fit  condition  to 
make  the  attempt,  and  that  owing  to  his 
highly  strung  nerves  and  excitement  he 
would  be  caught  before  he  had  gone  a  hun- 
dred yards — to  escape  from  Ruhleben  de- 
manded remarkable  presence  of  mind,  cun- 
ning, and  one's  wits  sharpened  to  razor-edge 
keenness — he  finally  accepted  my  advice.  I 
escorted  him  back  to  his  "diggings"  and  saw 
him  made  snug  and  comfortable. 

My  reflections  over  the  incident  were  not 
of  the  happiest.  I,  myself,  I  must  confess, 
was  nursing  a  scheme  to  get  away,  and  con- 
cluded that  it  would  be  traitorous  to  betray  a 
colleague.  There  and  then  I  decided  to  re- 
sign from  the  force,  and  communicated  my 

167 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

intentions  to  my  sergeant  before  going  off 
duty.  Moreover,  I  knew  that  the  prisoner 
whom  I  had  caught  would  make  an  attempt 
to  be  off  possibly  the  next  night.  If  I  hap- 
pened to  be  on  duty  at  the  time,  I  felt  that  I 
should  be  compelled  to  turn  a  blind  eye  in  his 
direction.  But  to  have  done  so  would  have 
jeopardised  the  very  existence  of  the  police 
force.  The  Germans  were  uncannily  astute 
in  their  control  of  us.  If  they  shoula  catch 
the  runaway,  as  I  felt  positive  they  would, 
they  would  be  able  to  trace  his  movements, 
and  to  such  perfection  as  to  deduce  the  time 
v/hen  he  broke  out  of  the  camp.  Then,  nat- 
urally, their  first  enquiry  would  be  concern- 
ing the  whereabouts  of  the  night  patrol  at 
that  time.  Explanations  might  be  vouch- 
safed, but  I  knew  sufficient  of  German  nature 
to  see  that  they  would  unhesitatingly  accuse 
the  policeman  who  happened  to  be  on  duty  as 
particularly  remiss,  if  not  an  actual  acces- 
sory to  the  act,  and  would  probably  decide 
to  re-assume  the  internal  guard,  which  we 
did  not  desire.  Moreover,  I  had  no  wish  to 
make  acquaintance  with  another  German 
prison  and  its  maddening  solitary  confine- 

i68 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ment.  So  the  police  force  knew  me  no  more. 
My  resignation  was  timely,  because  almost 
immediately  after,  the  opportunity  for  which 
I  had  been  patiently  waiting  to  secure  m}^ 
return  to  Britain  suddenly  revealed  itself. 
I  embarked  upon  this  hazardous  enterprise, 
confident  that  I  was  not  imperilling  any  of 
my  comrades,  or  abusing  any  position  of 
trust  by  my  self-preserving  action.  While, 
according  to  the  lyrist,  "a  policeman's  life  is 
not  a  happy  one,"  I  certainly  derived  distinct 
pleasure  from  serving  on  the  force  at  Ruh- 
leben. 

Although  the  authorities  fed  us  accord- 
ing to  their  own  standards,  we  could  supple- 
ment this  meager  monotonous  fare  if  we  pos- 
sessed the  requisite  funds,  and  were  in  the 
position  to  take  advantage  of  our  situation. 
The  Casino  was  available  to  the  postman,  to 
those  who  were  given  a  "pass"  by  the  doctor, 
and  to  others  within  certain  limits.  This 
establishment  was  under  private  control. 
Here  one  could  get  a  dinner,  comprising  a 
small  portion  of  meat,  gravy,  and  two  vege- 
tables, at  3s.  6d.  a  head.  If  one  knew  the 
ropes  this  could  be  washed  down  with  wine, 

/6p 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  sometimes  with  something  stronger, 
hailing  from  Scotland,  although  the  latter 
cost  15s.  a  bottle.  A  prisoner  acted  as  waiter, 
and  he  was  always  ready  to  assist  us  as  far  as 
he  was  able.  The  hours  were  from  6  to  7  and 
7  to  8  p.m.,  the  diners  being  served  in  two 
batches.  Needless  to  say  I  became  an  habi- 
tue of  this  establishment.  Occasionally,  to 
foster  an  illusion  of  home,  we  did  things  in 
style.  We  used  to  form  a  festive  dinner 
party  at  the  Casino,  paying  a  visit  to  the 
theater  afterwards.  We  could  not  get  to  the 
West-end  of  London,  so  contented  ourselves 
with  our  imagination,  supported  by  some  ap- 
pearance of  gay  life  and  the  White  Way,  and 
had  a  "night  out.'' 

At  length  the  proprietor  tumbled  into  hot 
water.  The  authorities  got  wind  that  he  was 
making  a  good  thing  out  of  his  illicit  wine 
list  and  came  down  upon  him  suddenly  and 
unexpectedly.  He  received  short  shrift,  was 
hustled  out  of  the  camp,  his  store  of  liquors 
was  discovered  and  confiscated,  and  he  pad- 
ded the  hoof  to  pastures  new,  a  wiser  if 
poorer  man.  After  remaining  closed  for  a 
few  days,  the  establishment  was  re-opened 

I/O 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

under  a  new  management,  and  with  the 
strings  of  officialdom  pulled  more  tightly- 
round  it.  But  the  Casino  was  one  of  those 
little  attributes  to  the  camp  which  made  a 
prisoner's  life  somewhat  more  endurable — 
if  he  possessed  the  wherewithal  to  go  the 
pace.  In  my  instance,  I  found  it  indispen- 
sable, for  although  the  food  was  very  ex- 
pensive, its  superiority  to  the  official  camp 
food  could  not  be  gainsaid,  and  my  health  in 
Ruhleben  was  never  so  excellent  as  when  I 
was  able  to  take  advantage  of  the  good,  if 
limited,  fare  which  the  Casino  offered. 

Under  communal  government  it  became 
possible  for  everyone  within  the  camp  to  ful- 
fil some  useful  service,  either  to  individual 
profit,  or  to  the  benefit  of  the  community  as 
a  whole.  Consequently,  once  the  scheme  had 
got  into  its  stride,  very  few  slackers  were  to 
be  found.  There  were  certainly  no  drones, 
because  we  discovered  that  occupation,  no 
matter  how  trivial  it  might  seem,  served  as 
food  to  the  mind,  and  acted  as  an  effective 
palliative  against  moping  and  dejection. 
Possibly  the  one  phase  of  effort  which  at- 
tracted the  greatest  attention  and  achieved 

lyi 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  most  impressive  success  was  education. 
A  powerful  committee  was  formed,  and  the 
curriculum  embraced  virtually  every  subject 
under  the  sun,  from  teaching  the  rudiments 
of  English  to  the  dusky  members  of  the  com- 
munity, who  hailed  from  the  darkest  corners 
of  the  Empire,  to  trigonometry;  archaeology 
to  arithmetic;  microscopy  to  carpentering; 
navigation  to  the  study  of  languages,  both 
live  and  dead. 

An  expert  in  every  field  of  education  was 
to  be  found  to  serve  as  tutor,  while  there  was 
a  ready  response  of  pupils.  The  system  was 
very  simple.  Those  who  were  prepared  to 
teach  were  enrolled  as  tutors.  Classes  were 
arranged  and  scheduled  so  as  to  keep  the 
building  set  aside  for  this  purpose  going  at 
full  pressure  from  early  morning  until  late 
at  night.  No  fees  were  officially  exacted, 
although  a  nominal  fee  of  five  shillings  per 
course  was  instituted.  But,  as  many  of  the 
prisoners  were  so  placed  as  to  render  the  pay- 
ment of  even  such  an  insignificant  sum  a 
hardship,  it  was  not  demanded.  On  the 
other  hand,  those  of  us  who  were  in  a  su- 
perior financial  position  were  expected  to 

172 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

contribute  towards  the  support  of  the 
scheme,  and  were  always  ready  to  do  so.  The 
fees  were  paid  into  the  Common  Fund,  and 
assisted  in  the  acquisition  of  the  requisite 
materials  and  books.  The  majority  of  the 
tutors  themselves  fulfilled  their  tasks  free  of 
all  remuneration.  If  private  lessons  were  de- 
sired tutors  were  free  to  give  them  and  in 
this  instance  they  were  at  liberty  to  impose 
what  charges  they  considered  adequate. 
Private  tuition  was  not  controlled  by  the 
educational  committees,  and  consequently 
the  fees  paid  for  such  work  went  into  the 
tutors'  pockets. 

The  schoolroom  was  the  loft  of  Barrack 
6.  This  had  formerly  been  tenanted  by  sev- 
eral prisoners  in  the  usual  manner,  but  the 
American  Ambassador,  upon  one  of  his  visits 
of  inspection,  condemned  it  as  unfit  for  hu- 
man habitation,  since  it  was  nothing  but  a 
black  hole.  He  ordered  the  residents  to  be 
removed  and  accommodated  elsewhere.  It 
remained  vacant  until  at  last  the  educational 
committee  decided  to  put  it  to  use.  Electric 
lighting  was  installed,  while  the  space  was 
divided  into  classrooms  by  the  aid  of  canvas 

173 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

partitions.  When  transformed  the  school 
presented  a  fairly  attractive  appearance,  and 
proved  ideal  for  the  purpose. 

A  notice  w^as  posted  at  the  entrance  setting 
forth  the  times  at  which  the  various  classes 
were  held.  The  subjects  were  so  numerous 
that  the  loft  was  taxed  to  its  utmost  capacity 
throughout  the  whole  day  and  far  into  the 
evening.  No  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
finding  competent  teachers  for  the  various 
subjects;  the  camp  swarmed  with  brains. 
The  interned  sea  captains  and  marine  officers 
taught  navigation ;  a  microscopist  was  found 
for  this  subject;  and  so  on. 

I,  myself,  contrived  to  squeeze  in  a  period 
of  my  busy  day  to  teach  the  "blacks"  the 
rudiments  of  English.  For  the  most  part, 
these  prisoners  were  numbered  among  the 
crews  of  the  British  ships  lying  in  port  at  the 
time  war  was  declared,  and  were  first  trans- 
ferred to  the  hulks  at  Hamburg,  and  finally 

sent  en  masse  to  Ruhleben.  The  majority 
either  knew  but  a  few  words  of  English,  or 

could  not  speak  the  language  at  all,  while 

in  one  or  two  instances  they  could  only  point 

rT4 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

to  a  smattering  of  German,  in  addition  to 
their  respective  dialects. 

One  man,  a  native  of  Sierra  Leone,  was 
totally  ignorant  of  any  v^ords  beyond  his  na- 
tive tongue;  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the 
fortunes  of  war  on  his  first  voyage. 

These  pupils  proved  extremely  attentive 
and  persevering,  and  by  the  time  I  left  the 
greater  number  were  able  to  read,  write  and 
speak  simple  English  quite  fluently.  Just 
before  my  departure  each  sent  me  a  letter 
thanking  me  for  what  I  had  done.  The  lan- 
guage was  naive,  but  its  very  simplicity  was 
impressive  and  aroused  the  favorable  com- 
ment of  one  of  the  chief  officials  of  the 
camp.  I  asked  permission  to  take  these  let- 
ters away  with  me,  but  as  it  was  against 
regulations  this  was  not  allowed,  although 
the  officer  confessed  that  had  the  matter 
been  left  to  his  personal  discrimination  he 
would  readily  have  handed  them  over  to  me. 
He  undertook  to  do  the  next  best  thing;  he 
sealed  them  in  a  package,  with  my  name  and 
address  attached  as  that  of  the  owner  of 
the  contents  and  placed  them  in  safe  keeping 

^75 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

so  that  I  might  be  sure  of  receiving  them 
when  peace  had  been  restored. 

The  study  of  languages  was  the  most 
popular  recreation  among  the  prisoners,  es- 
pecially those  of  middle  age.  There  were  a 
number  of  accomplished  linguists  among  us, 
and  it  was  possible  to  secure  a  competent 
tutor  in  any  civilized  tongue.  The  students 
could  be  seen  any  day  squatting  in  their 
bunks  or  in  odd  corners,  deeply  immersed  in 
grammars,  endeavoring  to  subjugate  the  dif- 
ficulties in  peace  and  quiet;  others  walked 
about  the  camp  memorizing  the  lessons.  A 
visit  to  the  grandstand  sufficed  to  reveal  one 
way  in  which  languages  were  being  mastered 
under  private  tuition.  ^'Professors"  might 
be  seen  pacing  to  and  fro,  with  a  pupil  on 
either  side,  explaining  rules,  repeating  idi- 
oms, memorizing  conjugations  and  convers- 
ing. It  was  an  uncanny  babel :  French, 
Spanish,  Italian,  Portuguese,  Japanese,  Ger- 
man, Chinese  and  English  sharing  honors. 

Even  practical  or  technical  education  was 
not  omitted  from  the  list.  Necessary  appli- 
ances within  limits  were  installed,  and  the 
work  was  conducted  along  practical  lines. 

iy6 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Thus,  for  instance,  the  carpentry  class  was  a 
combination  of  theory  and  practice.  The 
camp  maintained  a  carpenter  who  was  a 
skilled  man  in  his  craft,  to  do  odd  jobs.  The 
pupils  accompanied  him  on  his  rounds,  learn- 
ing both  by  following  his  operations  and  by 
participating  in  the  work.  The  boilerhouse 
proved  an  excellent  training  ground  for  those 
who  embraced  the  subjects  of  engineering 
and  electricity.  The  establishment  and 
working  of  our  own  local  government  offered 
a  valuable  object  lesson  to  those  interested 
in  organization,  and  business  training  was 
not  neglected.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  every 
prisoner  engaged  in  the  mastery  of  some 
trade  or  accomplishment. 

The  official  program  laid  down  when  the 
government  was  first  established  was  some- 
what limited  in  its  scope,  but  as  time  passed, 
it  grew  with  striking  rapidity.  A  host  of 
suggestions  were  submitted  to  extend  the 
curriculum  and  the  sphere  of  operations, 
with  the  result  that  the  "civil  authorities" 
as  the  camp  government  was  colloquially 
known,  were  induced  to  embark  upon  many 

177 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

enterprises  never  contemplated  in  the  begin- 
ning. 

There  was  one  problem  that  became  the 
concern  of  every  prisoner.  This  w^as  his 
teeth.  In  the  first  days  of  our  imprisonment 
nearly  all  of  our  food  had  been  of  the  sop 
variety.  Soup  virtually  constituted  the 
staple  diet,  and  in  order  to  render  the  bread 
more  palatable,  we  invariably  broke  it  into 
pieces  and  allowed  it  to  soak  in  the  liquid. 
We  were  provided  with  neither  spoons, 
knives  nor  forks,  and  so  were  compelled  to 
drink  the  contents  of  the  basins.  At  a  later 
date  we  were  able  to  secure  these  utensils  at 
our  own  expense.  It  is  not  surprising,  there- 
fore, that  the  question  of  teeth  promised  to 
assume  alarming  significance  and  it  was  only 
by  unceasing  attention  that  dental  troubles 
did  not  reach  overwhelming  proportions. 
The  authorities  never  provided  us  Vv^ith  a 
skilled  dentist  except  at  our  own  expense. 
The  doctor,  naturally,  was  of  no  use  in  this 
regard,  and  consequently,  those  who  failed 
to  devote  the  necessary  attention  to  their 
teeth  soon  regretted  it. 

I  fell  a  victim  to  a  decaying  molar  that 

178 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

racked  me  night  and  day.  Upon  making  in- 
quiries among  the  prisoners  I  was  recom- 
mended to  an  individual  who  was  said  to  be 
a  skilled  dentist.  At  last  I  tracked  him  to  his 
quarters,  and  an  appointment  was  made  to 
deal  with  my  irreclaimable  tooth.  I  do  not 
suppose  an  offending  molar  has  ever  been 
extracted  under  such  extraordinary  condi- 
tions. I  kept  the  appointment,  and  it  was  at 
the  hour  that  the  occupants — six  in  all — of 
the  horse-box  were  having  their  midday 
meal.  But  this  did  not  perturb  the  dentist. 
He  jumped  up  immediately,  rummaged 
among  his  belongings  for  his  instruments, 
and  forthwith  wrestled  with  my  tooth,  while 
his  comrades  continued  eating  their  meal  as 
unconcernedly  as  if  I  were  miles  away.  It 
was  an  exciting  and  prolonged  tussle,  with 
the  odds  on  the  tooth,  while  I  must  confess 
that  it  was  not  free  from  considerable  per- 
sonal discomfort.  Six  times  the  dentist  made 
his  attack  upon  my  jaw,  and  six  times  was 
forced  to  retreat,  but  with  a  fragment  of 
the  molar  as  a  prize  on  each  occasion.  Nat- 
urally, there  was  a  grim  struggle  between 
the    dentist    and    myself,    which    at    times 

m 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

threatened  to  overthrow  the  table,  but  the 
prisoners  did  not  pause  in  their  meal,  except 
to  dodge  the  flying  evidences  of  the  opera- 
tion. I  think  all  of  us  were  mighty  glad 
when  the  extraction  was  decided  to  have  been 
completed. 

But  this  did  not  bring  me  the  expected  re- 
lief. Within  an  hour  or  two  my  face  began 
to  swell  and  the  pain  became  excruciating. 
I  could  not  touch  a  morsel  of  food,  nor  could 
I  snatch  a  wink  of  sleep.  I  tolerated  the 
agony  for  five  days,  and  then  I  was  told  of 
a  second  prisoner  who  was  also  a  dentist.  I 
ferreted  him  out.  He  carefully  examined  my 
mouth,  and  then  comforted  me  with  the  in- 
formation that  something  serious  had  de- 
veloped. I  asked  him  to  come  to  my  relief, 
but  he  resolutely  declined,  although  he  pos- 
sessed his  complete  outfit  of  instruments, 
saying  that  it  was  totally  impossible  for  any 
man  to  practise  this  delicate  art  in  the  camp, 
owing  to  the  complete  lack  of  facilities,  and 
hinted  that  it  would  have  been  better  had  the 
instruments  used  on  my  jaw  been  sterilized. 
A  third  prisoner,  who  specialized  in  this  pro- 
fession, and  whom  I  consulted,  expressed 

i8o 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

a    similar    opinion,    commenting    that    he 
^'thought  blood  poisoning  had  set  in!" 

Back  I  trotted  to  the  prisoner  who  had 
pulled  my  mouth  about  so  unceremoniously 
He  had  another  probe,  declared  that  every 
piece  of  the  molar  had  been  removed,  but  was 
unable  to  give  me  any  advice  as  to  how  to 
treat  the  wound,  inflamed  and  suppurating, 
which  had  resulted.  I  was  in  a  quandary, 
especially  when  one  of  the  other  dentists, 
upon  a  second  consultation  advised  me  to 
place  myself  in  the  hands  of  the  authorities, 
and  submit  to  a  delicate  surgical  operation  in 
a  properly  equipped  institution  either  at 
Spandau  or  Berlin. 

This  was  the  very  thing  of  which  I  had 
been  in  dread.  Had  I  reported  myself 
to  the  doctor,  he  would  instantly  have  re- 
quested the  name  of  the  prisoner  who  had  as- 
sumed the  responsibilities  of  practising  den- 
tistry in  the  camp.  This  was  absolutely 
forbidden  by  the  regulations.  To  denounce 
the  dentist  was  to  expose  him  to  a  term  of 
three  months'  imprisonment.  I  had  no  desire 
to  compromise  a  fellow-prisoner,  so  I  de- 
cided to  treat  the  injury  myself,  at  least  for 

i8i 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

a  time,  and  my  comrades  in  the  horse-box 
in  which  we  were  then  residing,  gave  assis- 
tance ungrudgingly.  My  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful, so  that  the  denouement,  which  at  one 
time  appeared  to  be  inevitable,  was  avoided. 
But  I  never  submitted  myself  again  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  a  Ruhleben  expert  dentist, 
practising  surreptitiously! 

The  teeth  issue  assumed  such  a  serious 
aspect  as  to  precipitate  a  crisis.  Then  it  was 
decided  to  establish  a  dental  hospital  upon  a 
small  scale  within  the  camp.  The  authori- 
ties raised  no  objection  to  the  proposal  so 
long  as  they  were  not  called  upon  to  con- 
tribute financially  towards  the  scheme.  A 
building  was  set  aside,  and  this  was  equipped 
with  everything  of  the  very  latest  type,  at 
our  own  expense,  supplemented  by  practical 
assistance  from  the  American  Embassy.  The 
two  dentists  whom  I  had  consulted  during 
my  tooth  trouble,  and  who  had  refused  assis- 
tance owing  to  the  unfavorable  conditions, 
were  appointed  dental  surgeons,  and  from 
that  moment  all  anxiety  in  regard  to  teeth 
vanished.  The  equipment  of  this  dental  sur- 
gery probably  constituted  one  of  the  most 

182 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

costly  individual  enterprises  ever  attempted 
in  the  camp,  but  the  results  achieved  fully 
justified  the  expenditure  incurred. 

Eye  trouble  w^as  another  physical  ailment 
that  occasioned  considerable  anxiety.  The 
authorities  attempted  to  meet  this  issue  by 
delegating  an  eye  specialist  to  visit  us.  We 
w^ere  to  pay  for  all  treatment  received. 
Hov^ever,  the  scheme  v^as  never  a  success, 
for  the  official  oculist  w^as  not  popular. 
When  his  services  wrere  enlisted,  he  would 
remark,  "Oh!  You  w^ant  an  examination  of 
the  eye!  Well,  it  will  be  7s.  6d.!"  And  he 
would  not  lift  a  finger  until  the  fee  was  paid. 
The  charge  was  considered  to  be  extortion- 
ate; the  majority  of  prisoners  could  not  af- 
ford it,  so  suffered  in  silence.  That  oculist 
certainly  failed  to  build  up  a  flourishing  and 
lucrative  practice  in  Ruhleben. 

Many  of  the  prisoners  have  contracted 
short-sightedness,  cataract,  or  some  other 
eye  disease,  due  entirely  to  the  lack  of  ade- 
quate lighting  facilities  within  the  barracks, 
indifferent  food,  and  wretched  sanitation.  I 
have  seen  prisoners  striving  to  write  and 
read  under  the  scanty  illumination  offered  by 

1S3 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

a  hard-puffed  cigarette,  or  crouching  as 
closely  as  they  could  cigainst  the  dirt-be- 
grimed tiny  window  through  which  the  day- 
light endeavored  valiantly  to  struggle.  The 
gloominess  of  the  lofts,  which  was  never 
entirely  dispelled,  even  with  electric  light- 
ing, taxed  the  powers  of  the  eye  to  an 
enormous  degree.  Few  prisoners  will  come 
back  from  Ruhleben  without  permanent- 
ly defective  eyesight,  the  direct  result 
of  the  abominable  conditions  which  pre- 
vailed in  the  camp.  This  was  one  of 
the  shortcomings  which  the  communal 
government  was  unable  to  remedy,  although 
on  more  than  one  occasion  it  was  suggested 
that  we  should  establish  our  own  eye  hospital 
with  competent  oculists  selected  from  the 
prisoners  themselves,  if  such  were  to  be 
found,  or  maintain  the  appointment  of  a 
competent  German  specialist  out  of  the  Com- 
mon Fund.  But  the  recommendation  never 
proceeded  beyond  the  projected  stage,  prob- 
ably owing  to  the  cost. 

The  civil  authorities  did  succeed  in  found- 
ing a  lazaret  within  the  camp.  It  was  estab- 
lished close  to  the  official  doctor's  bureau,  so 

184 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

that  this  worthy  had  merely  to  exert  himself 
to  the  extent  of  walking  through  a  door  in 
the  wall.  This  hospital  was  equipped  on  a 
comfortable  scale,  and  was  infinitely  superior 
to  the  official  establishment  provided  for 
cases  demanding  surgical  treatment.  But, 
unfortunately,  the  provision  of  this  indispen- 
sable auxiliary  only  served  to  render  the  in- 
estimable doctor  more  indifferent  than  ever, 
although  there  was  a  certain  manifestation 
of  method  in  his  madness.  If  he  were  sum- 
moned to  attend  a  patient  lying  in  his  bunk 
he  would  refuse  to  visit  him.  If  we  told  him 
that  the  patient  was  unable  to  come  to  the 
surgery,  he  merely  retorted  that  under  such 
circumstances  the  "man  ought  to  be  in  the 
hospital."  When  we  pointed  out  that  he  was 
not  so  sick  as  to  demand  removal  to  the  hos- 
pital, he  then  replied,  "If  the  case  is  not  suf- 
ficiently serious  to  warrant  hospital  treat- 
ment then  the  patient  is  well  enough  to  visit 
the  surgery!"  So  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
official  had  us  both  ways.  Many  a  sick  man 
would  willingly  have  gone  to  the  hospital 
to  ensure  a  visit  from  the  doctor,  but  hesi- 
tated because  he  did  not  want  to  tax  the 

1S5 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

facilities  of  this  small  institution,  feeling 
that  it  should  be  reserved  for  those  who 
were  in  more  serious  need  of  such  atten- 
tion. If  every  sick  man,  to  force  the 
doctor's  hand,  had  gone  to  the  hospital, 
it  would  have  been  continually  over- 
crowded, while  the  waiting  list  would 
have  been  sufficiently  long  to  have  kept 
every  bed  occupied  for  months. 

It  was  the  establishment  of  autonomous 
government  which  made  life  in  Ruhleben 
more  bearable.  The  inauguration  of  trad- 
ing enabled  us  to  gratify  whims  and  fancies, 
and  allowed  us  to  render  our  unenviable  resi- 
dences more  comfortable.  Thus,  when  the 
party,  six  all  told,  of  which  I  was  a  member, 
moved  from  the  loft  to  a  horse-box,  the  au- 
thorities granted  us  three  beds,  or  apologies 
for  beds,  merely  boards  nailed  to  battens,  and 
raised  a  few  inches  above  the  floor,  with 
straw — subsequently  wooden  shavings — 
stuffed  into  a  sack  to  form  a  mattress.  Yet 
three  of  us  were  forced  to  be  content  with 
the  couch  the  floor  itself  offered,  and  this  in 
defiance  of  the  fiat  issued  by  the  American 
Ambassador,  that  every  prisoner's  bed  was 

i86 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

to  be  clear  of  the  stone  paving.  However, 
we  remedied  the  deficiency  ourselves.  We 
purchased  the  necessary  material  and  fash- 
ioned three  extra  beds.  Then  I  bought  a 
powerful  acetylene  lamp,  which  I  used  to 
light  my  business  premises,  but  took  home 
with  me  every  night  to  flood  our  apartment 
with  a  brilliant  illumination.  At  a  later  date 
we  secured  batteries,  and  wired  our  horse- 
box, to  provide  a  small  electric  light  over 
each  bed,  which,  provided  with  an  inde- 
pendent switch,  enabled  any  one  of  us  to 
read  and  write  after  the  others  had 
retired  to  rest,  and  that  without  dis- 
turbing them  by  general  illumination. 
Little  embellishments  were  continually 
being  introduced,  but  entirely  through 
our  own  efforts  and  at  our  own  expense,  the 
upshot  being  that  ultimately  our  flat  was  as 
snug  and  cosy  as  a  prisoner  could  wish.  If 
only  the  feeling  of  confinement  had  been  less 
irksome,  the  food  adequate  in  quantity  and 
appetising  ia  quality,  and  the  atmosphere 
within  the  barracks  less  reminiscent  of  a 
sewer,  life  in  Ruhleben  would  have  been 
comparatively  happy. 

187 


CHAPTER  X. 

OUTDOOR  RECREATION 

During  the  closing"  weeks  of  the  year  1914, 
life  at  Ruhleben  was  intensely  dreary.  There 
was  nothing  with  which  we  could  while 
away  the  many  hours  of  enforced  leisure; 
the  only  forms  of  recreation  available  were 
promenades  up  and  down  before  the  grand- 
stand to  the  monotonous  thunder  of  the  guns 
undergoing  test  at  Spandau,  tag,  and  other 
similarly  juvenile  games. 

The  camp  conjured  up  vivid  memories  of 
the  congested  corners  of  our  towns  and 
cities.  The  "lungs"  were  extremely  limited 
and  the  only  open  space  was  before  the 
grandstand.  During  bad  weather  even  this 
was  unavailable,  and  when  the  weather 
broke  the  utter  aimlessness  of  our  existence 
had  driven  our  spirits  to  low  ebb  and  we  had 
little  heart  for  amusement. 

i88 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

The  greatest  excitement,  as  already  men- 
tioned, was  derived  from  a  ball  contrived  of 
rags.  It  was  something  to  kick  and  throw 
about,  and  we  indulged  to  the  full  in  the 
game  of  rounders,  which  afforded  us  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  the  exercise  of  which  we 
were  in  need.  When  a  rubber  ball  was  ob- 
tained, we  became  as  excited  as  children  and 
a  game  of  modified  baseball  became  the  sub- 
ject of  keen  interest.  But  even  the  best  of 
games  becomes  tiresome  when  pursued  hour 
after  hour  without  a  break,  and  so  we  cud- 
gelled our  brains  to  devise  variations  and 
novelties  so  far  as  the  limitations  of  a  single 
rubber  ball  would  allow. 

I  have  an  idea  that  the  lack  of  excitement 
even  palled  upon  our  guards.  If  they  had 
anticipated  lively  times  keeping  us  in  order, 
they  were  doomed  to  disappointment,  and 
time  hung  heavily  on  their  hands.  "Lining 
up"  the  prisoners  was  the  most  active  occu- 
pation left  open  to  them  by  the  authorities, 
and  the  stentorian  order,  "Line  up,"  was 
roared  so  frequently  throughout  the  day 
that  it  became  the  joke  of  the  camp. 

"Line  up"  was  the  brief  order  to  parade. 

i8q 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Every  prisoner,  no  matter  where  he  was  or 
what  he  was  doing,  had  to  present  himself. 
When  we  had  lined  up,  we  were  counted  and 
re-counted  several  times,  to  make  not  doubly 
or  trebly,  but  octuply  certain  that  we  were 
there.  The  first  line  up  of  the  day  occurred 
between  half  past  six  and  half  past  seven  in 
the  morning,  preparatory  to  our  march  to 
the  kitchen  for  breakfast.  The  time  varied 
according  to  the  order  in  which  one^s  bar- 
rack went  to  the  kitchen.  We  went  in  rota- 
tion, at  intervals  of  about  fifteen  minutes, 
but  the  arrangements  were  so  conducted 
that  the  times  varied  from  day  to  day  for 
parading  each  barrack.  For  instance,  Bar- 
rack 1  would  be  first  on  Monday,  second  on 
Tuesday,  third  on  Wednesday  and  so  on,  so 
that  each  barrack  took  turns. 

Then  came  the  "bread  line,"  the  source  of 
much  amusement  among  the  prisoners  dur- 
ing the  earliest  days,  although  it  assumed  a 
pathetic  interest  some  time  later  when  pro- 
visions commenced  to  grow  scarce.  We  were 
paraded  when  our  allowance  of  bread  was 
sent  for  and  again  when  it  was  distributed. 
Certain  men  were  selected  to  go  to  the  "cub- 

190 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

byhole"  serving  as  the  bread  store  to  receive 
in  bulk,  the  ration  for  a  whole  barrack. 
There  was  also  a  line  up  before  and  after  the 
midday  meal,  and  another  previous  to  the 
receipt  of  supper. 

These  were  the  scheduled  "line  ups,"  if 
such  they  may  be  termed.  In  addition  there 
were  what  we  described  as  emergency  "line 
ups."  The  camp  was  provided  with  a  bell — 
curfew  we  dubbed  it — which  no  prisoner  was 
permitted  to  ring  unless  he  was  prepared  to 
receive  a  spell  of  imprisonment  for  commit- 
ting what  was  regarded  as  a  serious  breach 
of  the  regulations.  Whenever  this  bell  was 
rung  every  prisoner  had  to  respond  immedi- 
ately and  to  "fall  in'*  on  parade. 

The  official  line  ups  were  regarded  toler- 
antly by  the  prisoners.  A  certain  amount  of 
time  was  occupied  in  the  process,  which  left 
us  so  much  less  to  worry  away  according  to 
our  inclinations  and  ingenuity.  But  the 
emergency  parades  were  regarded  with  ill- 
concealed  ill-humor,  because  many  were  use- 
less, and,  I  believe,  were  imposed  as  a  test 
upon  the  guards  more  than  anything  else. 
They  reminded  us  of  the  practice  calls  at  fire 

ipi 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

stations,  though  with  less  purpose.  But  we 
had  to  parade,  and  possibly  were  called  upon 
to  withstand  a  vexatious  ordeal.  An  official 
would  stroll  up,  and  possibly  treat  us  to  a 
brief  harangue  upon  some  topic.  At  other 
times  he  would  make,  as  it  were,  an  inven- 
tory of  the  prisoners,  conveying  the  impres- 
sion that  the  authorities  were  engaged  in 
sorting  us  out  in  preparation  for  some  new 
decisive  action,  which  might  be  to  our  bene- 
fit, or  possibly  lead  to  speedy  release. 

Thus  the  officer  would  call  out,  "How 
many  married  men  here?" 

Up  would  go  a  show  of  hands  from  the 
prisoners. 

"How  many  prisoners  have  German  wives 
in  Germany?'' 

Another  show  of  hands. 

"How  many  Irishmen  are  there  here?" 

A  further  display  of  hands. 

"How  many  have  businesses  in  Ger- 
many?" 

And  so  it  went  on.  Many  of  the  interro- 
gations were  so  puerile  as  to  be  amusing, 
but  repetition  staled  their  novelty. 

What  little  open  space  we  possessed  for 

Ip2 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

recreation  was  naturally  reduced  when  the 
authorities  encroached  upon  it  to  build  two 
further  barracks.  One  of  these  new  resi- 
dences, Barrack  13,  was  colloquially  known 
as  the  "Blacks'  Barracks,"  as  negro  pris- 
oners were  segregated  there.  And  these 
poor  fellows  suffered  terribly.  The  building 
was  of  wood,  and  although  a  pipe-heating 
system  was  installed  it  was  totally  inade- 
quate. Those  who  had  lived  in  tropical  cli- 
mates suffered  severely.  They  went  about 
in  a  semi-lifeless  condition,  and  were  rav- 
aged by  illness ;  but  they  preserved  a  won- 
derful cheerfulness  through  it  all. 

Among  the  prisoners  were  several  acro- 
bats and  gymnasts  who  suffered  intensely 
from  the  effects  of  overcrowding.  They 
tried  courageously  to  keep  in  practice  but 
were  finally  compelled  to  give  it  up.  Acorn 
coffee,  black  bread  and  soup  form  a  poor 
diet  upon  which  to  prosecute  physique-tax- 
ing work.  In  fact,  every  prisoner  who  was 
accustomed  in  normal  times  to  exercise  reg- 
ularly, felt  the  absence  of  facilities  and  the 
low  caloric  value  of  the  miserable  food 
served  out  to  us  to  an  acute  degree. 

193 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

One  prisoner,  whom  we  nicknamed  "the 
Cat,"  absolutely  refused  to  become  the  vic- 
tim of  Prussian  rule.  From  the  morning 
after  he  arrived,  he  indulged  every  day  in  his 
round  of  physical  exercises  or  Swedish  drill. 
The  wretched  food  did  not  succeed  in 
quenching  his  enthusiasm  or  determination, 
and  even  the  weather  failed  to  dissuade  him. 
One  of  his  exercises  provided  the  camp  with 
infinite  amusement,  and  suggested  his  nick- 
name. It  was  a  kangaroo-like  jump  or  hop 
on  both  feet  with  hands  on  hips,  which  we 
construed  into  a  cat  dance  on  hot  bricks.  We 
used  to  banter  him  unmercifully,  gathering 
around  and  mimicking  the  barking  of  dogs, 
but  he  was  not  in  the  least  put  out  by  it,  and 
accepted  the  sallies  good-naturedly  carrying 
his  exercise  through  to  the  end. 

That  man  earned  and  maintained  the  ad- 
miration of  the  entire  camp,  for  despite  our 
short  commons  he  kept  himself  in  excel- 
lent health.  When  the  communal  govern- 
ment was  established  he  offered  to  teach 
physical  culture,  a  course  that  seemed  sadly 
out  of  harmony  with  the  conditions.  His 
offer  met  with  ready  and  wide  acceptance, 

ip4 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  he  succeeded  in  producing  one  of  the  fin- 
est bodies  of  men  in  the  camp,  trained  to  a 
high  pitch  of  efficiency,  who  went  through 
their  evolutions  with  the  precision  of  a 
chronometer.  The  displays  of  his  class  con- 
stituted one  of  the  most  widely  appreciated 
diversions  of  the  community,  and  inciden- 
tally, it  may  be  stated,  "the  Cat"  succeeded 
in  forming  the  largest  individual  class  in  the 
camp,  consisting  of  eighty  men. 

It  was  interesting  to  notice  how  at  the 
first  opportunity,  the  prisoners  enthusias- 
tically embraced  what  might  be  termed  the 
Britisher's  first  and  foremost  sport — boxing. 
We  had  many  first  class  exponents  of  the 
noble  art  among  us,  and  as  soon  as  the  neces- 
sary materials  could  be  obtained,  a  boxing 
craze  set  in.  The  "cracks"  readily  secured 
pupils  and  bouts  were  in  progress  through- 
out the  day.  Then  we  established  a  scientific 
ring,  provided  with  all  the  necessary  equip- 
ment, and  boxing  tournaments  became  one 
of  the  features  of  Ruhleben.  Battles  royal 
were  fought  and  won,  and  they  were  waged 
in  no  half-hearted  manner  either,  although 
insufficient  food  robbed  the  men  of  stamina. 

^95 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

When  we  commenced  to  receive  food  from 
home,  there  was  a  marked  improvement  in 
the  men's  physical  condition,  and  interest  in 
boxing  correspondingly  increased.  At  some 
of  the  contests  the  spectators'  shrieks  and 
howls  of  excitement  drowned  the  sonorous 
thundering  of  the  guns  at  Spandau. 

German  officials  and  military  regarded 
these  exhibitions  with  ill-disguised  hostility. 
The  Teuton  is  a  wretched  sportsman,  and  he 
cannot  understand  where  we  discover  any 
delight  in  knocking  one  another  about  for 
the  sheer  amusement  of  the  thing;  but  the 
greatest  resentment  was  because  we  were 
fostering  the  fighting  spirit.  Anything  in 
this  direction  was  regarded  askance.  The 
authorities  never  openly  suppressed  this  rec- 
reation; but  they  manifested  their  dis- 
pleasure in  devious,  subtle  ways. 

If  a  boxing  match  were  in  progress  the 
military  guards,  although  armed  with  rifles 
and  at  liberty  to  use  them  if  provoked,  dis- 
creetly kept  in  the  background;  and  although 
the  contestants  went  at  each  other  hammer 
and  tongs,  no  attempt  at  interference  was 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ever  made  and  the  fights  were  fought  to  a 
legitimate  finish. 

Notable  leaders  in  other  British  sports 
were  also  to  be  found  among  us.  Football 
was  represented  by  "Steve"  Bloomer  and 
"Freddie"  Pentland.  As  soon  as  the  pris- 
oners had  become  resigned  to  a  long  stay 
in  camp,  these  two  sportsmen  endeavored  to 
get  things  going.  They  wrote  to  friends  at 
home  asking  for  a  football  and  the  other 
dozen  and  one  incidentals  necessary  to  pur- 
sue the  game.  When  a  kindly  sympathizer 
sent  a  ball,  the  camp  went  wild  with  delight 
and  life  assumed  a  brighter  guise.  That  ball 
revived  our  drooping  spirits  as  speedily  and 
completely  as  the  sight  of  gold  affects  a 
prospector,  and  the  fun  we  extracted  from 
the  football  would  pass  all  comprehension. 

The  congestion  and  overcrowding  result- 
ing from  the  encroachment  upon  our  avail- 
able space  to  receive  the  two  additional 
barracks,  caused  us  to  look  through  the 
bars  of  our  prison  upon  the  expanse  of  the 
race  course  more  wistfully,  than  ever.  If 
only  we  could  get  out  there  what  a  time 
we  would  have.     The  authorities  were  ap- 

197 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

proached,  but  they  did  not  appear  to  be 
impressively  struck  with  the  brilliancy  of 
our  proposal.  Still,  the  mere  fact  that  they 
did  not  refuse  the  application  point-blank 
seemed  hopeful.  We  all  knew  something 
about  the  Teuton  Circumlocution  Office,  the 
tangle  of  red  and  blue  tape  which  prevails, 
and  the  tedious  journeys  from  department 
to  department,  which  a  request  had  to  make 
before  a  decision  could  be  given. 

Eastertide,  1915,  was  a  joy-day  to  us.  A 
section  of  the  forbidden  ground,  which  we 
nick-named  the  'Tield,"  was  thrown  open  to 
us,  and  was  to  be  available  as  long  as  we 
behaved  ourselves.  We  received  the  con- 
cession with  wild  jubilation,  and  the  first 
celebration  was  a  football  match  between 
two  sides,  captained  by  "Steve"  Bloomer 
and  "Freddie"  Pentland  respectively,  the 
Governor  of  the  Camp,  Baron  Scherein, 
honoring  us  by  kicking-off.  We  all  felt  like 
a  troop  of  schoolboys  who  had  been  unable  to 
visit  the  playground  for  days  on  end. 

One  must  not  run  away  with  the  idea  that 
the  authorities  were  manifesting  unwonted 
generosity  to  us  in  this  connection.     They 

198 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  gracious  enough  to  concede  us  the  use 
of  this  ground,  but  we  paid  £50  from  the 
Camp  Fund  for  the  privilege.  Moreover,  the 
hours  when  we  should  be  at  liberty  to  roam 
this  enclosure  were  rigidly  set  forth.  They 
were  from  9  to  12  in  the  morning,  and  from 
2  to  4.30  or  5  in  the  afternoon.  During  the 
height  of  the  summer,  when  the  days  were 
long,  we  received  an  hour's  extension,  the 
"Field''  being  kept  open  till  six  o'clock.  We 
were  warned  that,  if  we  did  not  abide  by  the 
official  times,  we  should  incur  the  risk  of  los- 
ing our  playground,  but  we  were  so  thank- 
ful for  what  we  had  received  that  even  the 
wildest  among  us  was  prepared  to  fulfil  the 
official  regulations  to  the  letter.  The  Camp 
Police  were  entrusted  with  the  task  of  clear- 
ing the  enclosure  at  the  specified  hours,  but 
no  difficulties  were  encountered:  the  conces- 
sion was  far  too  valuable  to  be  abused. 

Soon  the  football  fever  gripped  everyone. 
Bloomer  and  Pentland  took  the  matter  in 
hand  and  evolved  a  magnificent  organiza- 
tion. Membership  was  open  to  anyone  who 
cared  to  join  and  each  barrack  soon  had  a 
crack  team.    The  two  organizers  undertook 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  training  of  the  enthusiasts  and  in  the  be- 
ginning this  was  not  without  its  comical  as- 
pect. The  giants  recalled  their  football  days 
and  triumphs  at  home,  and  determined  to 
show  their  compatriots  what  they  could  do. 
But  they  had  forgotten  to  make  due  allow- 
ance for  the  period  of  idleness  during  which 
they  had  grown  rusty,  and  they  failed  to 
recognize  that  our  official  food  was  not  con- 
ducive to  staying  power.  The  teams  started 
off  promisingly  enough,  but  evidences  of  dis- 
tress were  speedily  forthcoming  on  all  sides. 
It  was  truly  a  survival  of  the  fittest,  and  not 
a  man  of  us  but  confessed  that  he  had  failed 
to  appreciate  how  much  he  had  fallen  out  of 
condition. 

Training  and  more  nourishing  food — re- 
ceived from  home — worked  wonders.  When 
the  season  was  at  its  height  the  matches 
which  were  played  between  the  barrack 
teams  were  worth  going  miles  to  witness. 
Each  team  had  by  this  time  received  an  ap- 
propriate nick-name.  One  was  known  as  the 
"Canaries,"  from  the  colors  sported  on  their 
jerseys — we  did  the  whole  thing  in  first-class 
style,  and  by  hook  or  crook  fitted  ourselves 

200 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

out  to  the  last  detail.  Another  was  dubbed 
the  "Cock-a-Doodle-doo's,"  from  good-na- 
tured bragging  of  their  prowess. 

Once  football  got  into  its  proper  swing, 
''League"  games  were  inaugurated  to  put 
greater  vim  into  the  matches,  both  among 
the  players  and  spectators.  The  sup- 
porters of  each  side  rolled  up  in  overwhelm- 
ing strength,  and  they  vied  with  one  another 
in  cheering  and  spurring  their  representa- 
tives quite  as  keenly  as  the  teams  battled 
between  themselves. 

But  the  event  of  the  season  was  the  "Ruh- 
leben  Cup  Final."  The  scenes  witnessed  at 
the  Crystal  Palace  at  the  decisive  contest  for 
football  supremacy  were  mild  in  comparison 
with  those  seen  at  the  internment  camp. 
What  we  lacked  in  numbers  from  the  specta- 
tor's point  of  view  was  more  than  redeemed 
by  lung-power.  Every  effort  in  the  cheer- 
ing line  was  reserved  for  this  great  day,  and 
our  wardens  were  bewildered  by  the  strenu- 
ous manner  in  which  we  let  ourselves  go. 
One  would  have  thought,  from  the  deafen- 
ing final  cheer  which  went  up  from  4,000  odd 
throats,  that  the  British  Army  was  cross- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ing  the  Rhine,  instead  of  its  being  a  paean  of 
praise  to  the  crack  barrack  football  team 
of  an  internment  camp. 

Football  was  the  sport  king  until  the 
weather  grew  too  hot  for  such  strenuous 
exercise.  Then  King  Willow  came  into  the 
arena.  The  success  that  had  attended  the 
efforts  of  the  football  enthusiasts  in  obtain- 
ing equipment  for  their  game  induced  a  sim- 
ilar attempt  to  be  made  to  secure  the  where- 
withal to  pursue  the  summer  game  with 
equivalent  enthusiasm.  Bats,  balls,  stumps 
and  nets  poured  into  the  camp,  and  the  vogue 
of  King  Willow  during  the  season  was  every 
whit  as  triumphant.  Everyone  was  invited 
to  become  a  member  of  the  club,  and  the 
nominal  fee  of  sixpence  was  levied  for  per- 
mission to  join  the  active  ranks  of  either  the 
cricket  or  football  enthusiasts. 

Here,  again,  inter-barrack  matches  were 
played  to  decide  the  championship  of  the 
camp.  In  order  to  prevent  the  complete 
monopoly  of  the  field  for  match  games,  the 
latter  were  generally  restricted  to  the  after- 
noon, which  left  the  field  clear  for  three 
hours  during  the  morning  for  practice  at  the 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

nets  and  scratch  team  encounters.  The  big 
matches  were  played  after  the  Australian 
system ;  that  is,  they  were  fought  to  a  finish, 
whether  they  lasted  one,  two  or  five  days, 
and  the  enthusiasm  was  quite  as  frantic  and 
sustained  as  in  the  winter  game. 

The  cricket  matches,  however,  had  one 
humorous  aspect  not  seen  in  the  football 
bouts.  As  a  rule,  play  was  possible  only 
from  two  to  six  in  the  afternoon,  without  a 
break.  But  the  needs  of  the  inner  man  and 
Prussian  system  enforced  an  interlude. 
About  half  past  four  the  barracks  began  to 
line  up  to  proceed  to  the  kitchen  for  tea.  As 
this  hour  approached,  those  who  had  no  par- 
cels from  home  with  which  to  regale  them- 
selves suddenly  scampered  from  the  field  to 
appear  in  the  parade,  both  players  and  spec- 
tators alike,  and  it  was  amusing  to  see  those 
of  the  former  who  were  dependent  upon  the 
kitchen  suddenly  dashing  across  the  field  as 
if  bereft — each  intent  upon  reaching  the 
kitchen  on  time.  Some  exciting  impromptu 
sprinting  matches  were  witnessed  and  af- 
forded great  delight  to  the  spectators  who 
were  able  to  dispense  with  the  official  meal. 

^03 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

These  latter  used  to  linger  until  the  drawing 
of  stumps  and  the  clearing  of  the  ground, 
and  then  return  to  their  barracks  to  discuss 
the  game  over  a  leisurely  meal. 

Even  golf  was  played,  although  it  was  of 
distinctly  unorthodox  character.  It  started 
in  quite  a  humble  manner,  and  at  first 
we  had  to  be  content  with  a  curtailed  play- 
ground skirting  the  barracks.  Clubs  and 
balls  were  procured,  and  the  players  amused 
themselves  with  short  strokes  and  putting, 
with  empty  condensed  milk  tins  sunk  in  the 
ground  to  serve  as  holes.  The  golf  enthu- 
siasts, not  to  be  outdone  by  their  footballing 
and  cricketing  colleagues,  approached  the 
'authorities  with  requests  for  facilities  to  in- 
dulge in  their  favorite  game.  But  this  was 
a  more  difficult  matter  to  decide.  Cricket 
and  football  could  be  played  upon  the  one 
ground,  according  to  the  season,  but  golf  de- 
manded special  arrangements.  At  first,  the 
requests  met  with  no  success,  but  finally  a 
possible  way  out  of  the  difficulty  was  dis- 
covered. Golfers  were  given  the  exclusive 
and  unrestricted  use  of  the  field  for  at  least 
one  hour  and  a  quarter  every  day.     They 

204 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  at  liberty  to  enter  the  field  at  half  past 
seven  in  the  morning  and  remain  there  in 
undisputed  possession  until  nine  o'clock, 
when  the  ground  was  thrown  open  to  the 
general  public  after  which  they  had  to  re- 
frain from  driving.  The  regulation  was  very 
explicit  on  this  point,  for  indiscriminate  driv- 
ing might  injure  the  other  prisoners.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  nine  o'clock,  the  golfers  had 
to  content  themselves  with  short  strokes  and 
putting. 

To  take  part  in  this  game  was  a  more  dif- 
ficult matter.  It  was  rendered  rather  ex- 
clusive through  official  action,  owing  to  the 
privilege  of  entering  the  field  at  an  early 
hour  and  enjoying  its  unrestrained  use  for  a 
period  of  the  day.  No  prisoner  was  per- 
mitted to  join  the  golf  club  until  he  could 
produce  satisfactory  evidence  of  being  a 
member  of  a  recognized  golf  club  at  home. 
By  imposing  this  restriction,  the  authorities 
prevented  everyone  from  suddenly  develop- 
ing into  a  golfer  merely  in  order  to  get  a  fur- 
ther hour  or  so  of  pleasure  on  the  field. 

Tennis  also  claimed  its  devotees.  A  section 
of  the  cinder  track,  for  which  another  £50 

203 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

had  to  be  paid,  was  set  aside  for  this  game. 
Three  courts  were  laid  down  originally, 
but  these  proved  insufficient  and  four 
more  were  added,  making  seven  in  all. 
The  nets  and  other  equipment  were  hired 
from  a  German  firm.  Tennis  was  a  pas- 
time of  what  might  be  termed  the  elite  at 
Ruhleben.  The  running  expenses  were 
naturally  heavy,  while  the  game  failed 
to  make  general  appeal,  being  voted  as 
too  tame  and  feminine.  Moreover,  the 
club  was  somewhat  exclusive  with  mem- 
bership fee  at  one  guinea  for  the  sea- 
son, which  effectually  debarred  the  greater 
number  of  prisoners,  even  had  they  been 
anxious  to  participate. 

It  was  the  tennis  courts  and  their  anima- 
tion that  played  a  prominent  part  in  one  of 
the  official  reports  concerning  Ruhleben,  and 
that  conveyed  to  the  general  public  at  home 
an  erroneous  impression  of  life  in  a  Ger- 
man internment  camp.  No  mention  was 
made  in  this  report  concerning  the  pay- 
ment of  £50,  or  that  the  club  was  self- 
supporting  and  only  accessible  to  a  privi- 
leged few.    Nor  was  there  a  word  to  indi- 

206 


An  Old  Advertisement  in  a  New  Setting. 

One    of    the    cartoons    from    the    Ruhleben    Camp    Magazine, 

Christmas,    1916. 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

cate  the  advantage  of  these  courts  to  the 
poorer  prisoners.  The  courts  had  to  be  kept 
going,  and  this  work  was  carried  on  at  the 
club's  expense,  thus  providing  a  paid  occupa- 
tion for  some  of  the  men. 

Track  athletics  were  not  neglected.  A 
Sports'  Committee  was  formed  under  the 
communal  government,  which  finally  became 
one  of  the  most  important  and  powerful  in 
the  Camp.  The  first  meeting  of  significance 
was  held  on  Whitsun  Monday,  1915.  The 
events  were  varied  and  attractive,  ranging 
from  running,  walking  and  sprinting 
matches  to  contests  of  a  more  mirth-provok- 
ing character.  Some  idea  of  the  importance 
of  this  meeting  may  be  gathered  from  the 
circumstance  that  the  prize  list  comprised 
no  fewer  than  22  silver  cups  and  122  silver 
medals  paid  for  from  the  Committee's  funds. 
Everyone  was  invited  to  participate,  the  en- 
trance fee  being  nominal,  and  the  whole  of 
the  day  was  given  over  to  the  meeting.  The 
prizes  were  awarded  at  a  later  date,  after  I 
had  been  able  to  complete  the  engraving  of 
the  inscriptions.  The  crowning  feature  of 
the  day  was  the  presentation  of  a  silver  cup 

2oy 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

to  the  Baroness  Scherein,  the  wife  of  the 
Camp  Governor,  who  was  frequently  pres- 
ent, and  who,  like  her  husband,  was  a  gen- 
eral favorite  among  us,  although  she  was 
prevented,  owing  to  the  rigid  regulations, 
from  giving  us  material  assistance. 

Another  diversion  which  proved  a  brilliant 
success — while  it  lasted — was  a  big  snowball 
battle,  with  which  we  endeavored  to  liven  a 
dreary  spell  of  winter.  Several  days  we  were 
engaged  in  the  preparations  for  this  Homeric 
struggle.  The  sides  were  selected,  each  com- 
prising from  150  to  200  combatants,  while 
we  raised  entrenchments,  built  fortifications 
and  prepared  huge  supplies  of  munitions  in 
the  form  of  snowballs.  The  troops  were 
trained  in  true  military  fashion  and  the  bat- 
tle was  fought  with  rare  gusto.  Unfortu- 
nat.ely  it  was  summarily  interrupted  by  the 
authorities.  The  soldiers  had  gathered  round 
enjoying — as  spectators ! — the  fun,  but  as  we 
warmed  to  our  work,  and  became  excited, 
shots  went  wild,  and  the  military  unwit- 
tingly received  one  terrific  fusillade.  They 
interfered  and  we  had  to  sound  the  "cease- 
fire."    I  have  every  occasion  to  remember 

208 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

this  event,  inasmuch  as  one  of  the  opposing 
side,  in  his  excitement,  picked  up,  not  a 
snowball,  but  a  substantial  piece  of  brick, 
which  he  hurled  at  me.  It  caught  me  upon 
the  head,  knocking  me  over  like  a  nine-pin, 
and  causing  me  to  be  considered  a  real  casu- 
alty. 

But  the  snowball  fight  revealed  two  strik- 
ing facts.  The  one  was  the  veiled  opposition 
of  the  authorities  to  anything  pertaining  to 
fighting,  even  in  jest.  They  watched  us  nar- 
rowly as  we  performed  military  drills  in 
anticipation  of  the  coming  day,  and  followed 
our  evolutions  closely.  The  way  we  went 
at  it  was  also  an  eye-opener  to  the  soldiers, 
provoking  one  or  two  to  comment  that 
if  we  fought  with  such  fierce  determina- 
tion and  gusto  in  a  mimic  conflict  with  snow- 
balls, what  should  we  be  like  in  the  real 
thing?  They  had  full  occasion  to  satisfy 
themselves  upon  this  point  a  little  later  upon 
the  Western  Front,  as  we  learned  for  our- 
selves. 

The  second  fact  which  arrested  our  atten- 
tion was  the  effect  of  environment  upon 
some  Britishers.    Among  our  number  were 

2og 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

many  who  were  Germans  in  all  but  birth. 
They  had  lived  in  the  country  since  their 
cradle  days,  and  had  become  saturated  thor- 
oughly with  German  methods,  mannerisms, 
ideas,  and  meek  subserviency  to  military 
rigor.  Their  sympathies  were  avowedly 
German,  and  they  were  typically  Teuton  at 
heart.  Some  of  these  individuals  came  with- 
in the  zone  of  snowball  fire,  and  their  instant 
action  so  arrested  the  attention  of  both  sides 
that  we  turned  round  and  pelted  them  un- 
mercifully, resuming  our  internecine  war 
when  we  had  hounded  them  from  the  spot. 
But  at  the  drenching  with  the  snowballs 
these  prisoners  crumpled  up  completely. 
They  were  terrified,  hid  their  heads,  and 
bolted  from  the  scene  like  startled  rabbits. 
It  was  difficult  to  believe  that  they  were 
of  British  extraction;  every  British  instinct 
appeared  to  have  been  eliminated  completely. 
It  was  this  display  of  abject  cowardice  which 
caused  us  to  reflect,  after  the  snowball  strife 
was  over,  and  to  wonder  among  ourselves 
as  to  whether  they  were  not  a  source  of  in- 
security among  us.  We  decided  to  act  and 
talk  discreetly  when  in  their  company,  and 

210 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

later  were  very  glad  that  we  had  done  so. 

Deprivation  of  the  use  of  the  "Field"  was 
regarded  as  a  severe  penalty  both  by  the  au- 
thorities and  ourselves.  On  one  occasion  it 
was  closed  for  three  days  as  a  punishment 
for  some  offense  against  Teuton  propriety; 
but  as  a  rule,  closing  for  one  day  served  as 
penalty  for  a  misdeed.  Even  to  be  forbidden 
its  use  for  one  day  was  sorely  felt.  On  such 
occasions  we  used  to  gather  about  and  peer 
more  forlornly  than  ever  through  the  fence 
at  the  expanse  of  inviting  sward,  our  dis- 
comfiture being  more  acute  after  having 
tasted  of  the  pleasures  it  afforded. 

One  incident  which  caused  this  penalty  to 
be  visited  upon  us  is  worthy  of  remark.  It 
was  the  Kaiser's  birthday.  A  huge  flagpole 
was  planted  in  the  camp  and  a  workman 
was  brought  in  specially  to  complete  the  final 
arrangements  preparatory  to  its  use.  Na- 
turally, upon  the  celebration  of  the  Em- 
peror's natal  day  the  German  eagle  was 
hoisted  amid  Teuton  "Hoch-hochs."  When 
we  trooped  out  of  the  barracks  and  caught 
sight  of  the  hated  emblem  of  Kultur  we 
could  not  refrain  from  inward  cursings,  but 

211 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

we  withheld  all  outward  signs  of  our  resent- 
ment. 

We  were  loitering  around  gazing  idly  up- 
on the  flag  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  when,  to 
our  amazement  it  suddenly  fell  to  the 
ground.  Excitement  mounted  to  fever  pitch. 
What  had  happened?  Was  the  fall  of  the 
flag  a  happy  augury  of  the  forthcoming  col- 
lapse of  the  Germanic  Empire?  Our  droop- 
ing spirits  rose  at  the  thought.  We  felt  dis- 
posed to  cheer,  but  we  controlled  ourselves. 
It  would  have  been  construed  into  manifes- 
tation of  lese-majeste. 

We  looked  on  wonderingly,  and  presently 
the  German  oflicials,  who  had  observed  the 
precipitous  descent  of  their  emblem,  hurried 
up  in  high  dudgeon.  They  examined  the 
cord.  Yes !  As  they  had  surmised,  some  de- 
testable schweinehund  of  an  Englander  had 
severed  the  rope !  The  clean  cut  of  the  tool 
was  there  in  evidence.  We  were  promptly 
paraded,  harangued,  threatened  with  this 
and  that,  and  finally  were  told  that  we  should 
be  forbidden  the  ^Tield." 

When  outraged  German  dignity  had  ex- 
pended   its    wrath,     the     Captain    of    the 

212 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Camp  stepped  forward.    In  deferential  lan- 
guage he  explained  that  no   Britisher  had 
been  guilty  of  such  misconduct  as  was  al- 
leged.   In  veiled  words  he  intimated  that  no 
prisoner,  much  as  he  might  detest  the  Ger- 
man flag,  would  be  so  foolish  as  to  cut  it 
down  in  an  internment  camp.    The  explana- 
tion was  received  with  ill-grace,  and  with 
conspicuous  reluctance  we  were  dismissed. 
The  true  reason  for  the  flag's  untimely  fall 
was  soon  known.     It  was  discovered  that 
the  German  workman  who  had  been  en- 
trusted with  the  erection  of  the  flagstafl^, 
while  completing  his  final  adjustments  with 
the  adze,  had  bungled.    A  mis-stroke  and  the 
sharp  edge  of  the  tool  caught  the  flag-rope, 
severing  it  with  the  exception  of  one  strand. 
The  workman,  after  surveying  the  damage, 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  un- 
necessary to  replace  the  rope;  the  remaining 
threads  would  be  sufficiently  strong  to  fulfil 
its  purpose.     And  so  it  did  until  the  wind 
became  strong,  when  the  strain  of  the  flap- 
ping caused  the  final  restraining  strand  to 
collapse.    And  so  down  came  the  flag.    Nat- 
urally, upon  finding  out  their  error  and  the 

^13 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

falsity  of  their  accusation,  nothing  more 
was  said.  German  officialdom  never  admits 
a  mistake.  We  regained  the  use  of  the 
'Tield"  immediately.  But  the  Fall  of  the 
German  Flag  constituted  a  topic  for  ani- 
mated discussion  for  a  considerable  time. 


J2I/f. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

INDOOR  ENTERTAINMENTS 

Outdoor  recreation  remained  at  a  very  low 
ebb  for  several  weeks  and  indoor  diversion 
was  even  more  restricted.  The  conditions 
were  far  from  conducive  to  merriment.  The 
barracks  were  wrapped  in  darkness,  not  re- 
lieved by  so  much  as  a  glimmer  of  light  be- 
yond the  glow  of  a  cigarette,  or  pipe,  or  the 
evanescent  flicker  of  a  match.  The  long 
winter  evenings  dragged  with  exasperating 
slowness,  and  the  wonder  is  that  the  more 
dejected  of  the  prisoners  did  not  become  de- 
mented from  prolonged  moping.  They  were 
querulous  to  an  extreme  degree;  a  man 
might  be  joking  one  minute  and  the  next  in 
a  frenzy  of  bad  temper. 

The  introduction  of  one  or  two  candles 
relieved  the  gloom  a  great  deal,  and  the  most 
was  made  of  the  slender  illumination  thus 
afforded.    When  artificial  lighting,  even  of 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  most  primitive  description  was  intro- 
duced, I  tried  to  pass  the  evenings  in  some 
useful  occupation.  I  kept  a  diary  in  w^hich 
I  carefully  posted  the  happenings  of  each 
day.  When  I  left  Ruhleben  this  diary  had  to 
be  left  behind  in  compliance  v^ith  the  law 
which  forbade  the  taking  home  of  anything 
by  those  who  were  released;  but  the  writing 
of  it  afforded  me  infinite  delight.  I  pur- 
posely wrote  the  material  over  and  over 
again  in  order  to  kill  time,  each  successive 
effort  being  more  elaborate  than  its  pre- 
decessor; and  I  took  huge  pleasure  in  writing 
my  final  version  in  microscopical  characters, 
crowding  several  hundred  words  on  a  sheet 
equal  in  size  to  the  leaf  of  a  reporter's  note- 
book. On  many  an  occasion  I  whiled  away 
eight  solid  hours  in  this  manner;  and  mid- 
night invariably  passed  before  I  finished  my 
self-appointed  task.  One  night  I  just  missed 
being  hailed  before  the  authorities  for  this 
heinous  offense,  such  a  narrow  squeak  that  it 
gave  me  a  terrific  fright.  My  sheets  of  notes 
had  become  an  inextricable  tangle  because  I 
had  forgotten  to  number  them  consecu- 
tively; and  I  rigged  up  a  table  and  set  the 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

notes  out  to  straighten  them.  I  was  deeply- 
engaged  in  so  doing  when  the  door  opened 
to  admit  the  soldier  on  duty.  The  table  was 
a  sea  of  papers. 

With  one  swift  movement  I  swished  the 
lot  together,  extinguished  the  light,  and  hop- 
ped into  my  bed.  The  sudden  darkness  dis- 
comfited the  guard;  he  was  as  helpless  as  an 
owl  in  the  glare  of  an  electric  torch  and  he 
dared  not  move  for  some  minutes  lest  he 
stumble  over  a  slumbering  form.  When  he 
had  regained  his  poise  and  had  switched  on 
his  electric  torch — every  soldier  on  duty  was 
thus  equipped — he  was  baffled,  for  I  was  ap- 
parently as  sound  asleep  as  the  rest  of  the 
prisoners.  He  had  not  been  quick  enough 
upon  entering  the  room  to  make  sure  of  my 
identity,  but  I  think  he  must  have  had  a 
pretty  good  idea  that  I  was  the  culprit,  for 
he  gave  me  a  rough  kick.  I  started  up, 
simulating  a  sleeper  suddenly  awakened 
from  his  dreams,  blinked,  rubbed  my  eyes 
and  muttered  something  incoherent.  The 
soldier  eyed  me  narrowly,  but  evidently 
thrown  off  the  scent  by  my  affectation  of 
rudely  disturbed  slumber,  concluded  that  he 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

had  made  a  mistake,  and  after  gruffly  bid- 
ding me  lie  down  again,  shuffled  off. 

Those  who  were  not  disposed  to  emulate 
the  birds  of  the  air  and  repair  to  their  bunks 
with  the  waning  of  the  winter  daylight,  used 
to  gather  in  the  long  corridor  leading  to  the 
horse  boxes.  Here  they  lounged  in  the  dark- 
ness, smoking,  grumbling  and  relating  sadly 
forced  jokes. 

One  night,  someone  in  the  darkness  shout- 
ed the  suggestion  that  we  have  a  "sing- 
song.'' Someone  else  routed  out  a  small  box 
and  there  was  a  call  for  volunteer  talent.  No 
response  was  forthcoming,  for  none  of  the 
prisoners  felt  in  the  mood  to  sing.  Many 
calls  were  made  and  went  unanswered. 
Finally  one  man  timidly  approached  the  box, 
mounted  it,  and  commenced  a  sentimental 
lyric.  It  was  a  weak  attempt,  his  voice  was 
sadly  off  pitch,  and  the  song  itself  was  de- 
pressing, being  one  of  the  favorites  of  the 
homeland.  Its  recital  aroused  memories  and 
the  singer  had  not  gone  far  before  he  was 
rudely  interrupted  and  ordered  to  stop — he 
was  twanging  at  heartstrings  too  wildly. 

It  would  not  have  mattered  how  fine  his 

2l8 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

voice;  the  prisoners  were  not  disposed  to 
accept  sentiment  at  any  price.  They  wanted 
something  rollicking,  something  with  a  good 
swing  to  it.  The  words  were  immaterial; 
indeed,  some  of  the  songs  were  the  most 
inane  ever  sung  or  heard,  but  they  went 
down  like  good  red  wine.  There  was  one  in 
particular  that  always  raised  the  roof;  I  do 
not  recall  its  title,  but  one  line  I  shall  never 
forget.  It  ran,  "And  the  ghost  walks  under- 
neath the  floor!"  That  drew  the  crowd.  It 
was  always  bawled  forth  with  a  roar  that 
shook  the  barrack,  and  feet  were  stamped  in 
accompaniment  to  the  movements  of  the 
spook.  That  anything  to  do  with  bogey-men 
or  eeriness  should  ever  have  made  such  a 
strong  appeal  to  the  dejected  inmates  of 
Ruhleben  may  seem  somewhat  remarkable, 
but  the  fact  remains  that  it  tickled  the  fancy 
more  than  anything  else  in  our  entire  reper- 
toire during  those  melancholy  days. 

One  night  when  there  was  a  lull  in  the  en- 
tertainment, a  prisoner  shouted  to  a  col- 
league, "Now  then,  B !    You  can  give  us 

a  turn.    Out  with  it !" 

B was  unable  to  evade  the  unexpected 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

invitation,  and  somewhat  hesitatingly 
mounted  the  box.  This  prisoner  had  Uved 
nearly  all  of  his  life  in  Germany,  and  in  ap- 
pearance and  mannerisms  bore  a  greater  re- 
semblance to  the  Hun  than  to  the  Briton. 
We  awaited  his  turn  with  anticipation.  He 
started,  but  he  did  not  go  far  before  pande- 
monium broke  loose — he  had  the  temerity  to 
attempt  a  German  song  in  the  German 
tongue. 

If  ever  an  outrage  was  committed  upon 
the  Britishers  in  Ruhleben,  this  was  one. 
The  sound  of  the  hated  tongue  roused  the 
audience  to  frenzy;  the  box  was  rushed  and 
the  unfortunate  soloist  became  the  victim  of 
an  infuriated  crowd.  They  hustled  and  pum- 
melled him  without  mercy,  and  each  blow 
only  served  to  rouse  the  anger  of  the  crowd 
to  a  higher  pitch. 

The  sing-song  which  had  commenced 
earlier  in  the   evening  free   from   incident 

threatened  to  develop  into  a  riot.     B 's 

sympathizers  and  colleagues  took  part  with 
him,  and  the  fight  was  fast  and  furious,  until 
the  timely  intervention  of  the  guard  dis- 
persed us  and  brought  the  meeting  to  a  sud- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

den  end.  Needless  to  say,  after  this  inciden-c, 
no  prisoner  ever  made  an  attempt  to  render 
a  song  in  German.  It  was  more  than  his 
skin  was  worth. 

Subsequently  this  man,  on  account  of  his 
outspoken  sympathy  with  the  German  na- 
tion, was  released  upon  condition  that  he 
join  the  German  army.  He  did  so  and  was 
drafted  to  the  Western  front,  where  a 
British  bullet  laid  him  low,  paying  the  pen- 
alty for  his  treachery.  When  the  news 
reached  the  camp  it  was  received  with  great 
satisfaction  and  prompted  an  immediate 
choral  rendition  of  "And  his  ghost  walks 
underneath  the  floor."  That  was  the  only 
tribute  considered  fit  for  the  occasion. 

One  evening,  the  party  lounging  in  the  cor- 
ridor decided  to  enliven  things  a  little  by  an 
impromptu  and  exceedingly  unskilled  exhi- 
bition of  clog  dancing.  Our  shoes  had  stiff 
wooden  soles,  and  the  patter  of  several  dozen 
feet  thus  encased  made  a  noise  like  trip 
hammers.  This  the  guards  declined  to  tol- 
erate, and  we  were  abruptly  cleared  out. 
At  that  time  our  captors  resented  all  of  our 
efforts  to  liven  the  weary  hours.    Their  one 

221 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

aim  seemed  to  be  to  keep  us  dejected,  but 
they  found  this  impossible,  for  we  had 
grimly  determined  to  get  some  fun  out  of 
our  drab  imprisonment.  To  attempt  to  sup- 
press the  spirit  of  some  of  the  prisoners  was 
like  trying  to  extinguish  a  fire  with  petrol, 
and  unconsciously  the  guards  themselves 
contributed  to  our  amusements.  They 
stopped  our  singing  in  the  corridors,  by  or- 
dering us  to  move  on.  They  suddenly  dis- 
covered that  congregating  in  the  passage- 
way constituted  an  infringement  of  the 
regulation  forbidding  prisoners  to  collect  in 
groups. 

At  the  time  I  arrived,  the  camp  did  not 
possess  a  single  musical  instrument;  or,  at 
least,  although  some  of  the  prisoners  owned 
them,  they  were  safely  stored  away,  owing 
to  lack  of  facilities  for  practice.  For  in- 
stance, when  Godfrey  Ludlow,  the  Austra- 
lian violinist,  was  trapped  in  the  internment 
net  he  succeeded  in  securing  permission  to 
take  with  him  his  violin,  but  for  months  he 
scarcely  touched  it.  Indeed,  he  seldom  re- 
moved it  from  its  case,  except  to  reassure 
himself  that  it  was  not  suffering  from  its 

222 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

prolonged  inactivity  and  enforced  storage  in 
uncongenial  quarters. 

But  one  night  the  gloom  was  broken  by 
strains  of  a  musical  instrument.  The  lover 
of  music  may  perhaps  cavil  at  the  term  being 
applied  to  a  mouth  organ  or  a  Jew's  harp! 
I  forget  which  of  these  two  instruments  of 
torture  had  the  distinction  of  being  heard 
first  at  Ruhleben.  As  soon  as  the  strains 
arose  there  was  an  outbreak  of  jubilation — 
at  last  we  had  secured  an  accompaniment 
for  the  vocalists  who  entertained  the  com- 
munity. As  for  the  instrumental  solos,  they 
threw  us  into  ecstasies  of  delight,  especially 
the  negroes,  who  were  hilarious  in  their  joy. 
I  recall  how  the  prisoners  crowded  around 
the  lucky  possessor  of  the  instrument,  listen- 
ing intently  and  urging  him  to  keep  going  for 
all  he  was  worth.  A  few  weeks  later,  if  we 
could  have  encountered  the  men  who  in- 
vented the  Jew's  harp  and  mouth  organ,  we 
would  have  torn  them  limb  from  limb.  A 
veritable  boom  set  in;  they  were  purchased 
from  a  Berlin  store,  and  from  morning  till 
night  the  camp  was  a  racket  of  discord.  The 
less  competent  the  owner,  the  more  industri- 

223 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ous  would  be  his  practice.  At  times  the  air 
was  thick  with  missiles  flung  at  the  heads  of 
the  offenders,  but  the  players  refused  to  be 
daunted. 

The  vogue  did  not  last  long,  but  it  gave 
way  to  another  and  if  possible,  worse  afflic- 
tion. A  prisoner  succeeded  in  getting  hold 
of  a  mandolin.  Then  two  or  three  stray  vio- 
lins crept  in,  then  a  guitar,  followed  by  whis- 
tle pipes  whch  came  by  the  dozen.  It  was 
not  uncommon  for  twenty  or  thirty  assorted 
instruments  to  be  playing  simultaneously  in 
a  barrack,  each  struggling  with  a  different 
air. 

If  the  auditors  were  in  the  minority  they 
had  to  suffer  in  silence,  stop  their  ears  or  get 
out.  If  they  were  in  the  majority  they  took 
the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  either 
drove  the  disturbers  from  their  quarters  or 
forced  them  to  stop. 

During  those  strenuous  musical  times 
many  curious  sights  were  witnessed  in  the 
camp.  In  the  horse  boxes  the  bunks  were 
disposed  in  tiers,  three  on  each  side,  resemb- 
ling the  sleeping  quarters  of  a  liner.    I  have 

224 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

seen  the  occupants  of  three  superimposed 
bunks  sitting  up,  with  their  legs  dangling 
over  the  sides,  together  in  concert  but  not  in 
harmony.  The  occupant  of  the  top  bunk 
might  be  playing  "Rule  Brittania,"  on  a  tin 
whistle;  the  man  in  the  center  trying  val- 
iantly to  scrape  out  something  like  the 
melody  of  a  Schumann  nocturne  on  a  violin : 
and  the  prisoner  in  the  lowest  bunk  steeple- 
chasing  the  strings  of  a  guitar  into  the 
strains  of  "Come  Back  to  Erin."  Possibly, 
on  the  opposite  side,  the  owner  of  a  bunk 
would  be  sucking  out  "The  Swanee  River" 
on  a  mouth  organ.  At  the  table,  two  other 
inmates  were  likely  to  be  trying  to  write 
letters  or  read  in  the  midst  of  the  unearthly 
noise. 

Things  came  to  such  a  pass  that  matters 
had  to  be  settled  by  compromise.  The  solu- 
tion was  effective :  all  the  musicians  in  a  bar- 
rack were  bundled  into  a  small  room  at  the 
end  of  the  building  and  given  complete  free- 
dom to  play  one  against  the  other.  For  a 
few  minutes  Bedlam  reigned.  Then  the  door 
would  open,  and  one  musician,  his  instru- 
ment under  his  arm  and  his  face  red  from 

225 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

his  exertions,  would  emerge  and  slink  discon- 
solately to  his  bunk.  He  had  been  defeated 
in  the  contest.  Another,  and  then  another, 
would  retire  in  turn,  until  at  last  perhaps 
only  three  or  four  players  would  be  left. 

Even  the  coralling  of  the  would-be  musi- 
cians into  one  room  was  not  entirely  success- 
ful, as  discordant  strains  have  the  knack  of 
penetrating  a  good  distance.  So  we  decided 
to  banish  the  orchestras  from  the  barracks 
altogether.  There  was  a  small  cubbyhole 
outside,  into  which  a  few  instrumentalists 
could  be  crowded.  They  were  given  this  re- 
treat which  did  not  meet  with  great  appre- 
ciation. It  was  so  small  that  the  musicians 
had  to  stand  back  to  back.  We  took  a  huge 
delight  in  chaining  up  the  "mad  musicians," 
even  if  the  violinist  did  have  to  lean  out  of 
the  window  to  play  his  instrument. 

I  was  passing  the  practice  room  one  day 
when  a  violinist  was  leaning  out  as  usual. 
It  was  raining  heavily  and  the  instrument 
was  dripping  like  an  umbrella. 

''Say,  old  man,"  I  ventured  to  the  player, 
*'your  violin's  getting  wet.  Why  don't  you 
take  it  inside?" 

226 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

"I  can't/*  he  said  plaintively,  letting  up  for 
a  moment,  "I  can't  turn  around." 

"Then  why  on  earth  don't  you  stop?" 

"I  can't,"  he  repeated,  "until  someone  goes 
out.  I'm  fixed  here  in  a  vice,  and  have  to  go 
on  playing  whether  I  like  it  or  not !" 

I  left  him  battling  with  the  rainstorm  and 
his  rebellious  instrument,  the  soddened 
strings  of  which  were  playing  strange 
capers. 

Only  one  element  in  the  camp  appreciated 
the  practice  bouts — the  "darkies."  They 
would  gather  about  in  delight  as  they  lis- 
tened to  the  gurgles  and  hiccoughs  of  the 
instruments.  Only  those  individuals,  accus- 
tomed to  finding  pleasure  in  the  banging  of 
a  tom-tom,  were  able  to  enjoy  a  Ruhleben 
band  practice. 

In  striking  contrast  to  the  foregoing  were 
the  impromptu  recitals  to  which  we  were  oc- 
casionally treated  by  the  "masters."  Now 
and  again  Godfrey  Ludlow  would  withdraw 
his  treasured  violin  from  its  case,  and  in  the 
silence  of  the  loft  or  the  horse  box,  settle 
down  to  play.  As  soon  as  the  strains  from 
his    instrument    were   heard    the    prisoners 

22y 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Within  earshot  would  abandon  their  tasks, 
steal  quietly  into  the  building  and  listen  in 
silent  rapture.  When  he  had  finished  a 
round  of  spirited  applause  would  break  out, 
accompanied  by  urgent  entreaties  for  more. 
His  music  carried  us  completely  away.  The 
German  soldiers  also  used  to  creep  in  and 
linger  among  the  appreciative  audience. 

When  the  Communal  Government  came 
into  existence  it  was  decided  to  organize  our 
indoor  entertainments.  There  was  ample 
talent  in  the  camp,  only  requiring  organiza- 
tion and  efficient  handling.  We  had  already 
tried  to  relieve  an  evening's  tedium  by  a 
comedy  sketch,  which  had  been  written  and 

presented  by  F.  F .    I  met  this  comedian 

in  Sennelager  Camp,  and  learned  that  he  and 
his  wife  had  been  on  the  stage  for  years 
They  had  been  arrested  while  fulfilling  a  con- 
tract in  Germany.     One  day,  Mrs.  F . 

paid  us  a  visit  at  Sennelager;  but  if  there 
were  one  thing  more  than  any  other  to  which 
the  authorities  were  opposed,  it  was  the 
visits  of  women  to  internment  camps.    Mrs. 

F was  seen  by  a  soldier  who  reported 

her,  and  we  were  all  paraded.    Then  the  com- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

manding  officer,  before  us  all,  roundly  lec- 
tured the  wornan  in  a  most  insulting  manner 
and  threatened  her  with  severe  punishment 
if  she  should  ever  visit  the  camp  again.  It 
made  our  blood  boil  to  stand  by  and  listen  to 
his  harangue,  but  we  were  helpless.  The 
tears  coursed  down  F 's  face  as  he  lis- 
tened and  watched  the  despairing  face  of  his 
wife.  But  both  the  poor  woman  and  our- 
selves had  to  suffer  in  silence;  the  slightest 
movement  on  her  behalf  would  have  brought 
penalties  indescribable  upon  us,  and  she 
would  have  been  treated  to  further  indigni- 
ties. 

F 's  attempt  to  provide  us  with  theat- 
rical fare  was  laughable.  A  small  stage  was 
rigged  up  in  a  hall  under  the  grandstand, 
merely  an  apology,  for  a  curtain  was  impos- 
sible and  the  properties  were  of  the  crudest 
description.  But  we  thoroughly  enjoyed  the 
entertainment,  and  when  we  secured  permis- 
sion to  run  the  camp  ourselves,  we  turned 
the  hall — for  the  use  of  which  we  paid  £50 — 
into  a  theatre,  used  it  for  orchestral  and 
vocal  concerts,  and  on  Sundays  for  church 
services.    We  built  a  first-class  stage,  with 

^29 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

every  accessory,  even  to  a  plush  drop  cur- 
tain, w^hich  v^e  bought  in  Berlin  and  made 
ourselves.  Stage  carpenters  and  scene  pain- 
ters were  enrolled,  and  with  these  latter  we 
were  especially  well  equipped  as  there  were 
several  artists  in  camp.  I  doubt  whether 
some  of  the  drop  scenes  could  be  excelled  for 
beauty  in  any  bona  fide  theatre.  One  in  par- 
ticular aroused  widespread  comment.  It 
represented  months  of  constant  labor  on  the 
part  of  the  artist.  It  was  essentially  a  labor 
of  love  with  him,  but  he  told  me  it  was  the 
only  means  by  which  he  could  keep  his 
thoughts  from  home. 

Those  artists  who  did  not  share  in  the 
stagecraft  preparations,  designed  costumes, 
posters  and  announcements.  The  latter  were 
works  of  art,  and  will  undoubtedly  be  highly 
prized  among  collectors  of  the  future. 

A  stock  company  was  established,  and  an 
advertisement  for  actors  met  with  tremen- 
dous response.  The  prisoners  applied  en 
masse.  The  environs  of  the  Ruhleben  thea- 
tre in  the  early  days  recalled  Poverty  Corner 
in  the  heydey  of  its  vogue.  Many  prisoners, 
who  had  scarcely  ever  before  seen  the  inside 

^30 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

of  a  theatre,  blossomed  out  in  true  Bohe- 
mian fashion,  and  incidentally  set  a  new 
vogue  for  the  camp.  The  hair  was  set  down 
at  the  accepted  angle  and  style,  the  seedy 
hat  was  sported  at  the  regulation  tilt,  big 
ties  were  seen  everywhere — indeed,  any 
chance  visitor  to  Ruhleben  might  have  been 
pardoned  had  he  concluded  that  the  Germans 
had  rounded  up  not  every  Britisher  within 
the  Teuton  Empire,  but  every  actor  under 
the  sun  and  flung  them  into  a  common  fold. 
The  self-styled  actors  who  suddenly  over- 
whelmed us,  regarded  their  position  with 
all  seriousness,  and  were  impervious  to 
the  jokes  which  their  appearance  created. 
Fashion  in  Ruhleben  decreed  that  one 
either  had  to  be  or  look  like  an  actor  if  he 
wished  to  be  accepted  in  camp  society. 

A  lean-to  was  built — as  usual  we  paid  for 
the  materials  and  labor — for  rehearsals.  This 
building  grew  with  great  rapidity  in  order 
to  receive  scene  painters  and  stage  proper- 
ties. In  the  meantime,  playwrights  were 
busy  preparing  the  initial  plays,  and  here, 
also,  real  talent  was  discovered.  Specially 
prepared  works  were  supplemented  by  per- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

formances  of  the  popular  favorites  of  the 
homeland,  the  necessary  permission  to  ren- 
der which  was  always  granted  by  the  owners 
of  the  copyright.  Drama,  comedy,  sketch, 
musical  comedy  and  comic  opera  were  given 
in  turn,  for  our  play  bill-of-fare  was  ar- 
ranged to  suit  all  tastes. 

The  bill  was  changed  twice  a  week.  The 
prices  for  the  seats  were  low,  sixpence  and 
one  penny,  with  a  few  reserved  seats  at 
higher  prices.  The  performances  started  at 
half  past  six  and  ended  about  a  quarter  after 
eight,  as  the  regulation  was  that  we  be  in  our 
barracks  by  half  past  eight.  On  one  or  two 
occasions,  during  the  regime  of  Baron  Scher- 
ein,  we  were  permitted  to  close  at  a  later 
hour,  but  these  exceptions  were  reluctantly 
granted.  From  the  very  first,  the  theatre 
proved  a  great  success,  and  was  more  than 
self-supporting.  A  certain  percentage  of  the 
revenue  went  toward  new  properties  and 
costumes,  while  contributions  were  also 
made  towards  the  purchase  of  foodstuflfs, 
which  enabled  our  colleagues  to  buy  little 
dainties  and  luxuries  at  figures  below  the 
prevailing  prices. 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

While  the  first  musical  efforts  were  not  a 
success,  it  was  not  long  before  the  managers 
succeeded  in  organizing  a  real  orchestra  for 
which  another  lean-to  was  built.  The  con- 
certs, both  instrumental  and  vocal,  vied  with 
the  theatre  in  popular  favor.  Ambitious 
works  of  every  description  were  rendered, 
and  upon  notable  occasions,  the  Governor, 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  a  few  privi- 
leged friends  from  Berlin,  was  among  the 
audience.  The  visitors  were  most  enthusi- 
astic, and  on  more  than  one  occasion,  they 
declared  that  we  had  treated  them  to  an 
evening's  enjoyment  that  could  not  have 
been  surpassed  in  any  German  center  of 
music. 

Although  the  orchestra  usually  gave  in- 
door concerts,  musicales  were  held  out  of 
doors  during  the  brief  summer  season  when 
the  weather  was  insufferably  hot.  This  was 
a  diversion  we  enjoyed  hugely,  for  it  re- 
minded us  of  home.  The  stretch  before  the 
grandstand  "constituted  the  promenade, 
where  we  strolled  listening  to  the  band,  or 
reclined  upon  the  grass.  Many  delightful 
evenings  were  passed  in  this  manner,  and  at 

^33 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

such  times  we  almost  forgot  that  we  were 
penned  up  in  a  German  internment  camp. 

In  our  wish  to  preserve  the  associations  of 
home,  we  celebrated  our  own  Royal  Acad- 
emy exhibition.  There  was  plenty  of  talent 
in  the  camp,  and  the  exhibition  proved  a 
great  success.  Many  of  the  canvasses  dis- 
played compared  favorably  with  some  I  have 
seen  on  the  line  in  Burlington  House;  and 
in  addition,  there  were  examples  of  artistry 
and  craftsmanship.  Some  of  the  prisoners 
had  passed  their  idle  hours  in  wood-carving 
with  penknives  and  other  simple  tools.  One 
if  the  negroes  had  laboriously  fashioned 
pieces  of  granite  into  knickknacks  of  various 
sorts,  finished  with  a  high  polish.  These 
aroused  considerable  comment.  My  contri- 
bution to  the  exhibition  was  an  egg  embla- 
zoned with  the  arms  of  Ruhleben  and  a  suit- 
able inscription.  After  the  exhibition,  I  used 
it  as  a  drawing  card  in  the  window  of  a  shop 
I  established  in  Ruhleben,  w^here  it  never 
failed  to  arouse  interest,  even  among  the 
German  officers. 

We  considered  our  ring  of  indoor  amuse- 
ments completed  when  at  last  we  were  able 

^34 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

to  open  the  Picture  Palace,  which  proved  a 
success.  Our  principal  trouble  in  this  con- 
nection was  with  films.  We  had  to  hire  these 
from  Berlin,  and  most  of  them  were  ex- 
ecrable in  character,  plot  and  technique, 
while  the  fact  that  they  were  terribly  worn 
by  the  time  we  received  them  did  not  add  to 
their  attractions.  But  we  consoled  ourselves 
with  the  fact  that  the  Germans  had  lagged 
far  behind  the  other  nations  in  this  phase  of 
industry. 

All  things  considered,  it  must  be  admitted 
that  the  internment  camp  was  well  supplied 
in  point  of  indoor  amusements.  There  was 
always  something  on  that  served  to  while 
away  the  tedium  of  the  evenings  and  did 
much  toward  promoting  the  limited  gaiety 
of  the  prisoners. 


235 


CHAPTER  XII. 

BIDS  FOR  FREEDOM 

People  at  home,  reading  about  the  con- 
gested internment  camp  at  Ruhleben,  often 
wonder  why  frequent  attempts  at  escape  are 
not  made.  Now  and  again  we  hear  of  such  a 
venture  and  some  prisoner  more  daring  than 
his  fellows  straggles  home,  having  bid  an  un- 
offical  adieu  to  the  Teutons. 

There  were  several  reasons  why  such 
breaks  for  freedom  was  seldom  made.  In  the 
first  place,  there  was  hardly  a  prisoner  who 
did  not  believe  that  release  was  only  the  mat- 
ter of  a  short  time;  only  a  few  of  the  pris- 
oners could  speak  German;  and  then  it  was 
a  long  pull  from  Spandau  to  the  border,  and 
subsistence  en  route  was  likely  to  prove  dif- 
ficult. As  a  result,  reflection  generally  con- 
vinced the  most  daring  that  the  risk  was 
hardly  worth  the  candle.    Of  a  certainty,  re- 

236 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

capture  would  be  attended  by  punishment  of 
some  devilish  description  such  as  only  the 
Teuton  mind  could  conceive. 

Spies  abounded  everywhere,  and  we  had 
to  bear  in  mind  that  we  were  not  likely  to 
encounter  many  benevolent  Germans  on  our 
way  to  the  frontier.  A  prisoner  in  flight 
could  hardly  hope  to  escape  the  inevitable 
challenge  that  sooner  or  later  would  be  flung 
at  him  during  his  journey.  Demand  for  the 
pass  would  lead  to  a  complete  undoing. 
Even  if  a  man  tried  to  pass  himself  off  as  an 
American,  he  could  scarcely  hope  to  succeed, 
for  Americans  also  had  to  produce  passports 
or  other  irrefutable  evidence  of  American 
citizenship. 

Accordingly,  during  the  first  three  months 
of  our  imprisonment  no  attempt  at  escape 
is  recorded.  During  this  period,  however, 
one  or  two  of  the  more  venturesome  kept 
their  eyes  and  ears  open,  and  acquainted 
themselves  with  the  lie  of  the  land,  in  case 
an  opportunity  should  arise. 

As  time  went  on,  and  less  was  heard  of  the 
expected  change  of  prisoners,  those  who 
were  willing  to  take  any  risk  to  get  away, 

^37 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

matured  their  plans.  I  may  say  that  ''How 
to  Bolt"  and  ''When  tc  Bolt''  were  the  fa- 
vorite subjects  for  discussion  in  the  privacy 
of  our  living  quarters.  Hundreds  talked  glib- 
ly and  evolved  daring  schemes,  but  few  of 
them  were  carried  out.  As  a  rule,  the 
schemer  thought  better  of  his  decision  when 
the  moment  arrived.  Nevertheless,  rumors 
of  escape  were  bandied  about  without  cessa- 
tion. 

We  always  knew  when  a  bold  break  for 
freedom  had  been  made.  Then  we  were 
called  to  parade  at  six  in  the  morning.  We 
were  not  even  given  time  to  dress,  but  had  to 
jump  up  out  of  bed  and  appear  as  we  were, 
snatching  overcoats  on  the  way.  When  the 
weather  was  cold  is  was  a  disagreeable 
ordeal,  but  there  was  not  a  man  among 
us  who  did  not  wish  the  fugitive  success  and 
gladly  shoulder  personal  discomfort  on  his 
behalf.  We  knew  that  every  minute  we 
could  give  him  was  invaluable  so  we  delayed 
and  hampered  the  authorities  as  much  as 
possible  in  their  efforts  to  count  us. 

Escape  was  not  without  its  tragic  side. 
One  Russian  prisoner,  a  mere  boy,  fell  a  vic- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tim  to  the  irksomeness  of  confinement,  and 
his  brain  gave  way.  Ir  his  delirium  he  at- 
tempted to  escape.  He  was  detected  by  the 
guard,  who  uttered  the  challenge  but  ap- 
parently the  youth's  mind  was  so  unhinged 
that  he  did  not  realize  the  import  of  the 
ominious  hail.  Crack  went  the  rifle.  His 
body,  stiff  and  cold,  was  brought  into  the 
camp  the  next  morning.  The  guard  had  un- 
doubtedly taken  deliberate  aim,  instead  of 
contenting  himself  with  merely  bringing 
him  to  earth.  We  considered  it  a  cold- 
blooded murder. 

The  fact  that  we  knew  but  little  of  the 
guarding  of  the  camp  from  without  baffled 
our  efforts  to  break  bounds.  We  discreetly 
sounded  our  guards  when  we  became  more 
friendly  with  them,  kept  our  eyes  open,  and 
never  allowed  the  slightest  detail  to  escape 
our  eyes.  We  learned,  however,  that  the 
protective  system  was  uncannily  elaborate. 
The  soldiers  were  exasperatingly  vigilant 
and  ready  to  shoot  on  sight.  Also  every 
night,  at  half  past  nine,  a  barrack  inspection 
was  carefully  made,  when  the  guard  entered 
and  counted  the  inmates.     If  the  total  tal- 

^39 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

lied  with  his  official  record,  it  was  acknowl- 
edged by  a  guttural  ''Gute  Nacht/'  If  not, 
there  was  a  hubub  until  the  roll  was  found 
to  be  correct. 

Escape  in  the  daytime  was  utterly  impos- 
sible, although  in  one  instance  it  came  within 
an  ace  of  proving  successful,  through  sheer 
audacity.  The  prisoner  laughingly  entered 
his  barrack  one  day,  and  commenced  to  pack 
his  bag.  His  comrades  asked  what  was  in 
the  wind. 

"Oh,  I've  had  enough  of  this.  Fm  going  to 
clear  out,''  was  the  reply. 

His  listeners  were  so  utterly  taken  aback 
by  his  retort  that  they  stared  at  him  in 
open-mouthed  astonishment.  Then,  as  the 
import  of  his  words  dawned  on  them,  they 
shook  their  heads  and  tapped  their  foreheads 
in  gentle  conviction  that  another  man's  brain 
had  given  way.  Yet  there  was  method  in 
this  man's  madness.  He  emerged  from  his 
barrack,  still  laughing  merrily,  yelled  "good- 
b^T-e"  to  those  who  were  loitering  around  and 
waved  his  hand  excitedly  in  general  farewell. 
Then  he  hastened  toward  the  entrance  where 

240 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  guard  watched  the  man's  approach 
closely. 

The  prisoner  marched  boldly  up  to  the 
gxiard,  extended  his  hand  and  laughingly 
said  that  he  was  off,  having  been  granted  a 
pass.  The  soldier  was  so  over-awed  by  the 
frankness  of  the  prisoner  that  he  wished  him 
good-bye  and  allowed  him  to  go  without 
making  the  slightest  protest.  It  was  some 
seconds  before  the  guard  realized  that  he  had 
not  asked  to  see  the  man's  pass;  then  the 
prisoner  was  quickly  hailed  and  ordered  to 
stop.  Of  course,  his  game  was  up  and  he 
was  promptly  taken  into  custody.  What  ul- 
timately became  of  him  I  do  not  know,  but 
the  general  belief  was  that  he  was  com- 
mitted to  an  asylum  after  escort  to  Spandau, 
the  authorities  concluding  that  no  man  in  his 
right  senses  would  ever  have  attempted  such 
a  rash  ruse.  His  nerve  aroused  widespread 
comment  and  satisfaction  among  the  pris- 
oners. 

What  audacity  can  do  was  shown  on  an- 
other occasion  as  well.  When  Mr.  Geoffrey 
Pyke  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  pre- 
ferred life  in  England  to  that  in  an  intern- 

241 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ment  camp  in  Germany,  he  did  about  the 
last  thing  a  fugitive  would  be  expected  to  do. 

He  and  a  companion  successfully  broke 
bounds  and  turned  their  footsteps  toward  the 
North  Sea.  Some  four  hundred  miles  lay 
before  them,  and  they  almost  covered  the 
distance.  Under  their  plan,  they  did  not 
hurry  nor  did  they  cling  to  the  solitude  of 
the  countryside,  but  walked  boldly  through 
the  various  towns  en  route  during  broad  day- 
light. By  this  procedure  they  evidently  dis- 
armed the  suspicions  of  the  authorities ;  and 
the  two  drove  their  way  as  far  as  Wesel, 
where  their  elation  at  their  success  led  to 
their  undoing.  They  had  paraded  every  other 
town  on  their  way  and  they  concluded  that 
they  might  just  as  well  see  the  sights  of 
Wesel.  But  Wesel,  being  a  military  area,  is 
difficult  to  enter  and  even  more  difficult  to 
leave;  and  every  stranger  is  watched  as 
closely  as  a  mouse  is  watched  by  a  cat.  As 
they  were  walking  unconcernedly  along  the 
street  one  day  they  were  challenged  and  all 
was  up.    So  ended  their  daring  enterprise. 

Needless  to  say,  attempt  at  escape  consti- 
tuted the  most  heinous  offence  in  the  whole 

242 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

penal  code  at  Ruhleben  and  the  punishment 
was  accordingly  severe.  At  the  parades  fol- 
lowing such  attempts  we  were  mercilessly 
harangued.  The  officials  dinned  it  into  our 
ears  that  the  runaway  was  either  within  an 
ace  of  being  caught,  or  actually  arrested,  or 
else  hinted  in  sinister  terms  that  he  had  met 
with  the  fate  which  must  inevitably  attend 
all  such  efforts.  Never  did  they  admit  that 
an  attempt  had  been  successful.  Yet  these 
threats  and  warnings  had  little  effect  on  us. 
When  a  man  disappeared  from  camp,  and 
days  passed  without  his  return,  the  authori- 
ties endeavored  to  make  us  believe  that  he 
had  been  shot  or  encountered  the  worse  fate 
of  solitary  confinement.  They  scouted  the 
idea  of  any  man  ever  succeeding  in  escaping 
from  Germany,  even  if  he  broke  the  bounds 
of  the  internment  camp. 

As  we  came  at  length  to  appreciate  the  ex- 
tremely elaborate  arrangements  for  keeping 
us  within  the  four  walls  of  Ruhleben,  we 
realized  that  the  greatest  skill  was  necessary 
to  outwit  our  captors.  It  was  about  the 
middle  of  1915  that  the  possibilty  of  escaping 
first  gained  our  serious  attention. 

^43 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

At  a  certain  hour  of  the  day  the  more 
daring  members  of  the  camp  used  to  meet 
to  discuss  plans  and  projects,  and  to  draw  up 
certain  laws  bearing  upon  the  subject  which 
we  all  agreed  to  observe.  One  of  the  most 
keenly  discussed  topics  was  whether  sum- 
mer or  winter  constituted  the  best  time  for 
making  the  break  for  home.  The  pros  and 
cons  were  all  thrashed  out  thoroughly. 
Some  argued  that  the  shortness  of  the  win- 
ter days  and  the  long  hours  of  darkness 
would  be  extremely  favorable.  But  others 
thought  that  the  extreme  cold  and  the  na- 
kedness of  the  country  would  more  than 
counterbalance  this  advantage. 

The  supporters  of  the  summer  theory 
counted  on  the  hiding  places  offered  by  the 
cornfields  and  the  foliage  of  the  woods  and 
hedges,  which  would  make  it  easy  to  sleep 
all  day  and  travel  by  night.  Lastly,  and  this 
was  a  telling  factor,  it  would  be  possible  to 
subsist  longer  without  food  in  warm  weather 
than  in  the  bitter  cold.  It  was  the  consen- 
sus of  opinion  finally  that  the  summer  was 
the  better  time. 

The  meetings  of  the  little  society  were 

244 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

much  attended  and  many  rules  were  laid 
down.  For  instance,  if  two  prisoners  were 
to  break  loose  at  the  same  time,  they  were  to 
keep  company  if  possible,  but  each  was  to 
act  in  accordance  with  the  law  of  self-pre- 
servation. That  is  to  say,  if  one  met  with  an 
accident,  or  was  wounded  by  a  sentry's  rifle, 
his  comrade  was  to  go  on  without  rendering 
him  assistance. 

The  period  of  darkness  during  which  an 
attempt  could  be  made  was  from  half  past 
nine  at  night  to  six  in  the  morning.  It  was 
the  habit  of  the  guard  to  make  an  inspection 
the  last  thing  at  night.  At  first,  this  seemed 
to  constitute  a  serious  obstacle,  but  we  over- 
came it  by  a  little  strategy,  or  what  might 
be  aptly  called  camouflage.  A  plotter  would 
proceed  to  his  barrack  and  make  up  his  bed 
as  if  he  were  asleep  in  it.  A  convenient 
bundle  was  slipped  under  the  cover  to  repre- 
sent the  form  of  the  sleeper,  or  perhaps  a 
pair  of  boots  were  left  projecting  from  the 
foot  of  the  bed.  These  preliminary  arrange- 
ments were  voted  necessary  to  absolve  one's 
comrades  from  all  complicity. 

This  ruse  succeeded  until  it  dawned  upon 

H5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  authorities  that  the  guard  ought  to  make 
a  bunk  to  bunk  inspection.  Of  course,  di- 
rectly this  system  came  into  operation,  the 
dummy  forms  were  speedily  discovered,  with 
the  result  that  the  fugitive  did  not  get  a 
very  long  start  before  his  flight  was  dis- 
covered. It  was  also  an  unwritten  law  that 
no  prisoner  should  ever  communicate  his 
intentions  to  any  one  unless  he  were  to  be 
accompanied,  in  which  case,  of  course,  he  had 
to  act  in  concert  with  his  colleague.  The 
prisoners  never  showed  the  slightest  curi- 
osity in  matters  pertaining  to  escape  beyond 
fervently  wishing  good  luck  to  the  fugitive. 

I  had  several  plans  for  escape,  but  because 
of  the  charge  overhanging  my  head — that 
of  being  a  spy  in  the  pay  of  the  British  Gov- 
ernment, from  which  I  have  never  been  ac- 
quitted— I  had  to  move  warily. 

I  did  succeed  in  completing  a  carefully 
worked  out  scheme  that  seemed  to  offer 
every  promise  of  success.  I  mapped  out  a 
route  between  the  camp  and  the  frontier, 
which  extended  entirely  through  sparsely  oc- 
cupied country.  I  intended  to  pass  as  a  tour- 
ing German  cyclist,  and  went  so  far  as  actu- 

246 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ally  to  secure  the  bicycle.  I  also  arranged 
for  the  fabrication  and  supply  of  a  metallic 
bullet-proof  garment  to  be  worn  beneath  my 
ordinary  clothing.  I  am  a  pretty  good  cy- 
clist, and  I  had  made  up  my  mind  that  when 
challenged,  I  would  either  run  the  soldier 
down  or  fly  past  him  at  full  speed  trusting  to 
the  swiftness  of  my  flight  to  prevent  him 
from  hitting  me,  or  in  the  event  of  his  bullet 
reaching  its  mark,  hoping  that  it  would  be 
deflected  by  my  metallic  protection. 

I  completed  all  the  arrangements  down  to 
the  most  minute  detail.  How,  I  am  not  at 
liberty  to  disclose,  especially  in  connection 
with  the  cycle  and  the  metallic  protection  for 
my  person.  They  were  to  be  at  a  certain 
place  near  Ruhleben  at  a  certain  time  upon 
the  day  when  I  planned  my  departure,  and 
they  were  there  as  arranged  although  I 
abandoned  my  effort  at  the  last  moment,  for 
I  discovered  an  insuperable  flaw  in  my  de- 
signs. The  route  I  had  so  carefully  planned 
I  found  to  be  the  longest  to  the  frontier, 
and  would  force  me  to  cross  two  bridges. 
My  accomplice  outside  warned  me  that  I 
could  never  hope  to  "fly"  these.    Not  only 

H7 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  they  heavily  guarded  by  a  detachment 
of  soldiers,  but  each  end  had  a  barrier  that 
could  be  dropped  at  a  moment's  notice.  If  I 
succeeded  in  eluding  the  guard  at  one  end, 
the  barrier  could  be  closed  at  the  other  be- 
fore I  reached  it.  So  I  reluctantly  abandoned 
the  idea  as  hopeless  and  decided  to  possess 
my  soul  in  patience  until  I  was  able  to  put  a 
bolder  and  more  complete  scheme  into  exe- 
cution. 

The  arrangements  for  protecting  the  ex- 
terior of  the  camp  were  extensive.  This  I 
discovered  from  personal  investigation,  tak- 
ing my  life  in  my  hands  to  satisfy  myself  on 
this  subject.  I  committed  everything  to 
memory  so  thoroughly  that  I  could  have 
made  my  way  out  and  have  traveled  through 
the  surrounding  country  blindfolded.  From 
my  examination  I  recognized  the  utter  fu- 
tility of  trying  to  get  away  unless  one  had 
completed  the  most  detailed  arrangements 
and  was  equipped  with  resources  for  any  em- 
ergency. 

One  industrious  prisoner  tried  to  escape  by 
tunnelling  under  a  brick  wall  bounding  one 
side  of  the  camp,  the  outer  defences  being 

348 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  ubiquitous  barbed  wire.  But  the  author- 
ities had  anticipated  such  an  attempt.  A 
deep  trench  had  been  dug  in  which  were 
strung  lines  of  barbed  wire  and  the  trench 
had  then  been  filled  in  to  conceal  the  obstruc- 
tion. Consequently,  any  tunnelling,  unless 
carried  out  at  a  very  deep  level,  was  com- 
pletely frustrated.  It  was  reported,  too,  that 
this  barbed  wire  was  connected  with  an  elec- 
tric alarm  system,  but  upon  this  point  I  have 
no  confirmatory  evidence.  Generally  speak- 
ing, tunnelling  was  considered  too  fantastic 
and  was  not  given  serious  consideration. 

Although  many  attempts  at  escape  were 
undoubtedly  made,  little  information  con- 
cerning them  leaked  out.  Naturally,  the 
participants  maintained  a  wise  silence.  But 
one  enterprise  is  worthy  of  mention.  Two 
prisoners  were  involved  whom  I  shall  call 
A  and  B.  Here  is  the  story  as  narrated  to 
me  by  A. 

"The  night  was  dark.  Shortly  after  the 
guard  had  made  his  final  inspection  we 
tumbled  out  of  our  bunks,  making  them  up 
to  appear  as  if  we  were  still  sleeping,  and 

^49 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

stole  out  of  the  barracks.  We  lived  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  camp,  but  our  rendezvous 
had  been  arranged. 

''After  much  anxiety  we  cleared  the  camp, 
and  it  looked  like  plain  sailing;  but  v^e  had 
gone  only  a  short  distance  v^hen  my  chum, 
overwhelmed  at  outwitting  the  guard  and 
tasting  freedom  again,  broke  down  com- 
pletely. I  was  overcome  with  dismay.  The 
force  of  the  reaction  reduced  him  to  the 
helplessness  of  a  baby.  So  occupied  was  I 
in  trying  to  calm  him  and  restore  him  to  his 
normal  vigor  that  I  failed  to  notice  the  ap- 
proach of  the  sentry.  He  called  his  chal- 
lenge from  the  distance  of  a  dozen  paces. 

"At  the  sound  of  this  peremptory  order 
my  friend's  nerve  returned.  His  first  im- 
pulse was  to  run  for  it. 

"  'Don't  you  move,  you  fool,'  I  growled 
quietly.  'If  you  do,  he'll  fire.  Yor.  speak 
German,  so  bluff  it  through !' 

"The  sentry  had  reached  us  by  this  time 
and  was  eyeing  us  narrowly.  My  friend  at 
last  sputtered  out  something  that  we  could 
see  was  regarded  with  suspicion.  I  now 
threw  discretion  to  the  winds,  and  jumping 

230 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

forward  dealt  the  sentry  a  terrific  blow  in 
the  face  that  knocked  him  over  like  a  ninepin. 

"  'Run  like  Old  Nick/  I  yelled  to  B,  'and 
keep  close  to  me.' 

'We  bounded  forth,  leaving  the  German 
soldier  senseless  on  the  ground.  But  luck 
was  against  us — we  had  gone  only  a  few 
paces  when  my  chum  stumbled  and  fell,  cry- 
ing sharply  as  he  hit  the  ground. 

"  'Go  on,'  he  cried,  'don't  stop.' 

"This  was  in  keeping  with  our  secret  code, 
but  I  knew  the  consequences  if  he  were  ar- 
rested, since  the  gravity  of  our  offense  had 
been  augmented  by  the  attack  on  the  soldier. 
This  would  certainly  be  visited  upon  B.  By 
this  time  the  guard  was  yelling  for  assis- 
tance like  one  bereft. 

"I  doubled  back  to  my  companion.  Luckily, 
all  through  the  incident  I  managed  to  keep 
my  senses,  and  T  don't  believe  I  have  ever 
thought  so  swiftly  or  so  clearly  as  I  did  that 
night.  Lifting  B  to  his  feet  I  found  that  he 
had  only  wrenched  his  ankle  slightly. 
Crouching,  I  whispered  softly : 

"  Tt's  hopeless  now ;  we  must  get  back  to 
camp !' 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

"We  looked  around.  It  was  black  as  pitch, 
but  our  eyes,  accustomed  to  the  darkness, 
could  make  out  the  burly  form  of  a  soldier 
listening  intently.  Like  two  rabbits  we 
bounded  back  toward  the  camp.  The  soldier 
immediately  caught  sight  of  us  and  tore 
after  us  like  mad.  We  continued  to  run  at 
top  speed,  but  camp  food  told  its  tale,  and 
we  were  both  soon  winded,  so  we  dropped  in- 
to the  hollow  formed  by  the  bank,  and  sti- 
fling our  heavy  breathing  as  much  as  we 
could  listened  to  the  running  of  the  sentry. 
The  footsteps  grew  fainter  and  then  died 
away. 

'Thinking,  of  course,  that  the  soldier  had 
gone  on,  we  looked  around  warily.  Imagine 
our  dismay,  then,  when  we  saw  the  figure 
of  the  guard  on  the  bank  above  us  silhouetted 
against  the  sky.  He  could  not  see  us  but 
was  merely  taking  stock  from  his  point  of 
vantage.  We  crouched  low,  eager  for  the 
moment  when  he  would  move  on,  but  he  was 
not  disposed  to  budge  a  foot. 

*We  stood  the  trying  ordeal  for  what 
seemed  an  eternity,  and  then  I  whispered: 

"  'There's  nothing  in  this.    We've  got  to 

232 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

go  for  him  and  take  that  rifle  away.  If  we 
don't  our  number's  up,  for  he'll  blaze  away 
the  moment  he  sees  us.' 

*'My  companion  gave  a  smothered  curse 
at  our  dilemma.  We  were  two  puny  scraps 
of  half-starved  humanity,  while  he  was  a  big 
hulking  Prussian  guardsman  with  the 
strength  of  an  ox. 

"  I'm  game/  whispered  my  chum,  'but  he's 
big  enough  to  eat  us.' 

"  'Never  mind.  We're  two  to  one,  and  it's 
our  only  chance.   Are  you  ready  ?' 

'We  crawled  up  the  bank  without  being 
seen ;  reaching  the  top  we  sprang  on  our  prey 
like  tigers.  There  was  a  wild  scuffle.  I  don't 
remember  exactly  what  happened,  but  I 
know  we  hit  out  simultaneously,  bore  down 
the  guard  and  threw  away  his  rifle,  and  then 
bolted  without  ceremony  for  the  point  of  the 
camp  from  which  we  had  broken  out.  I  re- 
ceived a  sprained  wrist  and  a  damaged  eye 
in  the  transaction  and  B  also  carried  his 
scars. 

'Tn  the  darkness  we  overshot  the  mark, 
and  found  our  feet  hitting  the  highroad  that 
skirts  one  side  of  the  camp  leading  to  the 

^53 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

main  entrance.  We  were  running  full  tilt 
into  trouble,  for  the  guards  were  all  on  the 
qui  vive  by  this  time.  Hanging  closely  to- 
gether, we  dodged  the  chasing  soldiers  who 
were  pelting  down  the  road  towards  their 
comrades  at  the  main  entrance,  whooping 
in  confidence  at  the  prospect  of  our  capture. 
Whipping  back,  we  discovered  the  point 
where  we  had  broken  bounds,  clambered 
through  and  scuttled  into  our  barracks. 

"I  tumbled  into  bed  just  in  the  nick  of  time, 
for  directly  after,  the  emergency  bell  began 
to  clang,  and  the  barrack  guard  rushed  in 
excitedly,  ordering  everyone  up.  Cursing 
their  luck,  the  sleepers  rolled  out  of  their 
beds,  snatching  what  garments  they  could, 
and  ran  downstairs.  I  discarded  a  part  of 
my  attire  and  made  myself  look  as  dishev- 
eled as  I  could  to  give  the  impression  that  I 
had  just  been  awakened;  but  was  upset  to 
discover  my  wrist  which  had  been  paining 
me  greatly  had  swollen  to  twice  its  normal 
size.  For  a  moment  I  thought  that  this 
would  certainly  betray  me. 

"I  was  in  the  lap  of  the  gods.  I  would  fab- 
ricate some  plausible  explanation.    As  I  de- 

^54 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

scended  the  staircase  my  thoughts  flew  to 
my  chum.  Had  he  regained  his  barrack  or 
had  he  been  caught  at  the  last  stile? 

"As  we  fell  in,  my  heart  bounded,  for  I 
saw  him  polling  toward  the  parade  ground 
as  nonchalantly  as  if  nothing  had  happened, 
talking  gaily  with  a  companion.  We  were 
quickly  counted,  and  the  roll  call  was  cor- 
rect— and  yet,  two  prisoners  had  escaped. 
We  were  counted  and  recounted,  but  the 
total  never  varied.  How  I  chuckled  in- 
wardly at  their  discomfiture!  At  last  we 
were  dismissed,  but  I  could  see  that  the  au- 
thorities were  far  from  being  satisfied;  there 
was  ample  evidence  to  prove  that  two  pris- 
oners had  broken  away  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  all  were  there. 

"To  complete  my  alibi  I  purposely  slipped 
as  we  filed  into  the  barracks  and  gave  a  sharp 
cry  as  I  fell  on  my  damaged  arm  and  bumped 
my  head.  At  last  I  felt  secure.  If  personal 
inspection  revealed  my  swollen  wrist  and 
damaged  eye,  explanation  would  be  simple 
and  I  had  plenty  of  witnesses.  Nevertheless, 
I  was  at  the  water  tap  at  the  first  opportu- 
nity, bathing  my  wrist  and  trying  to  reduce 

^55 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  swelling  of  my  eye.  The  commiseration 
of  my  colleagues  was  genuine,  for  they  never 
dreamed  of  my  unblushing  dissimulation." 

The  German  officials  never  solved  the 
mystery,  and  A  and  B  must  be  counted 
among  the  lucky  ones.  Others  were  far  from 
being  so  fortunate. 

The  Teutons  lost  no  opportunity  to  im- 
press upon  us  the  severity  of  the  punishment 
that  awaited  those  who  attempted  to  break 
bounds ;  and  it  must  not  be  thought  that  their 
threats  were  empty  ones — that  was  not  the 
German  way. 

Let  me  illustrate  by  relating  the  case  of 
one  unfortunate  runaway  who  was  caught. 
The  offender  was  at  once  condemned  to  soli- 
tary confinement ;  and  we  had  almost  forgot- 
ten about  this  unlucky  comrade  when  we  re- 
ceived a  sudden  shock.  We  were  proceeding 
one  morning  to  the  kitchen  for  our  morning 
meal  when  attention  was  arrested  by  the  fig- 
ure of  a  man  standing  alone  in  a  conspicuous 
place,  or  rather  what  should  have  been  a 
man.  His  face  had  a  haunting  pallor  as  of 
faded  parchment,  his  eyes  were  lusterless, 
and  he  appeared  to  have  scarcely  enough 

^5^ 


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INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

strength  to  stand.  The  pathetic  spectacle  he 
presented  made  an  impression  that  will  never 
be  forgotten. 

We  soon  found  out  it  was  the  British  pris- 
oner who  had  attempted  escape  and  been 
caught  in  the  act.  He  had  been  brought  from 
his  solitude  in  a  tiny  steel-bound,  dimly 
lighted  room,  as  silent  as  the  grave,  to  be  ex- 
hibited before  his  compatriots  as  a  warning. 
The  horrors  of  solitary  confinement  had  left 
their  traces  as  we  could  all  see  for  ourselves, 
and  we  were  informed  that  similar  punish- 
ment would  be  dealt  out  to  all  others  who 
essayed  the  same  offence.  After  this  nause- 
ating exhibition,*  the  man  was  escorted  back 
to  the  living  hell  in  which  he  was  to  remain 
until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Once  again,  the  Germans  in  their  misun- 
derstanding of  the  psychology  of  the  British 
Anglo-Saxon  committed  a  grave  error.  If 
they  had  hoped  to  intimidate  the  rest  of  the 
prisoners  they  were  doomed  to  disappoint- 
ment, for  it  had  a  diametrically  opposite  ef- 
fect. This  inhuman  exhibition  of  a  man 
whose  only  crime  had  been  a  bold  dash  for 

♦"Sixteen  Months  in  Four  German  Prisons,"  pp.  44-59. 

^57 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

liberty  provoked  greater  determination  than 
ever  on  the  part  of  the  daring,  and  swelled 
the  ranks  of  the  secret  society  pledged  to  one 
definite  object — freedom  1  No  matter  how, 
but  freedom. 


^5S 


CHAPTER  XIIL 
THE  SPLIT  IN  THE  CAMP 

I  have  already  described  how  the  German 
Government  rounded  up  for  internment,  resi- 
dent, commercial  and  touring  Britishers 
without  discrimination.  Into  this  drag  net 
were  gathered  English  travelers  and  holiday- 
seekers,  as  well  as  those  long  resident  in  Ger- 
many, who  from  lengthy  association  with 
Teutonic  influences  had  suffered  a  strange 
and  almost  incredible  transformation.  This 
element,  instead  of  being  compatriots,  were 
a  race  apart;  they  were  Germans  in  every- 
thing but  birth  and  name. 

It  is  true  that  in  the  aggregate  they  num- 
bered only  three  or  four  hundred,  but  even 
this  ten  per  cent,  leavening  was  almost  more 
than  we  could  tolerate.  They  were  openly 
sympathetic  to  the  Teuton  cause,  and  an- 
tagonistic to  the  British.    This  galled  us  to 

^59 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  quick.  It  demanded  strong  self  control 
on  the  part  of  the  loyal  faction  to  listen  to 
these  cheer  the  sinking  of  the  Lusitania  and 
other  outrages. 

To  exasperate  us  further,  they  inscribed 
German  house-names  on  the  doors  of  the 
horse  boxes  in  which  they  lived,  conversed 
in  German,  sang  in  German,  observed  all 
German  fete  days  and  celebrations  in  Ger- 
man fashion.  In  short,  they  existed  as  a  Ger- 
man colony  in  the  heart  of  a  fervently  patri- 
otic settlement  of  Englishmen,  and  spared 
no  effort  to  flout  the  flag  of  their  birth. 
It  seems  incredible,  but  I  am  not  exag- 
gerating v^hen  I  say  that  an  English  wrord 
never  fell  from  their  lips,  except  in  oppro- 
brium, or  w^hen  they  were  compelled  to  con- 
verse with  some  of  their  fellow-prisoners. 
Indeed,  in  many  instances,  they  had  become 
so  thoroughly  Germanized  as  to  speak  imper- 
fect English  with  a  guttural  accent. 

Of  course,  the  reason  for  this  display  of 
German  sympathy  was  obvious.  They  were 
striving  might  and  main  to  curry  favor  with 
the  authorities,  cherishing  the  hope  that  by 
such  action  they  might  ultimately  gain  free- 

260 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

dom  or  release  "on  pass;"  and  so  be  able  to 
resume  their  commercial  and  professional 
occupations.  We  took  the  full  measure  of 
these  creatures  and  so  did  the  authorities, 
who  detested  the  British,  but  seemed  to  have 
still  greater  contempt  for  those  who  aisloy- 
ally  renounced  their  citizenship  and  mas- 
queraded as  Germans. 

The  authorities  distributed  these  renegade 
Englishmen  promiscuously  throughout  the 
camp,  but  they  invariably  congregated  to 
discuss  in  the  vernacular  the  latest  tidbits  of 
news.  Upon  the  approach  of  a  loyal 
Britisher,  however,  conversation  was  dis- 
creetly dropped.  ' 

It  was  the  general  belief  that  the  authori- 
ties planted  these  traitors  among  us  for  the 
purpose  of  listening  to  our  conversation  and 
acting  as  general  intelligence  couriers.  How 
correct  this  is,  I  do  not  know,  but  I  can  vouch 
for  the  fact  that  these  considered  no  task  too 
low  which  was  likely  to  redound  to  their 
advantage.  If  a  comment  adverse  to  Ger- 
many were  uttered  it  was  surprising  how 
quickly  the  authorities  knew  of  it,  and  indis- 
creet actions,  conducted  in  apparent  privacy, 

261 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

likewise  reached  their  ears  with  amazing 
rapidity. 

Consequently,  we  regarded  these  pseudo- 
Britishers  with  suspicion  and  made  it  clear 
to  them  that  their  company  was  not  desired. 
Nevertheless,  with  apparent  indifference, 
they  participated  in  our  conversations  when- 
ever possible. 

During  one  of  these,  I  remember,  the  name 
of  the  German  Emperor  happened  to  be  men- 
tioned. One  of  the  loyalists  suddenly  broke 
in  with: 

"To  hell  with  the  Kaiser!" 

A  few  minutes  later  the  prisoner  was 
hailed  before  the  officials  for  the  grave  crime 
of  lese-majeste.  As  he  was  being  cross-ex- 
amined, his  eyes  lighted  on  the  traitor  whom 
he  recalled  as  being  present  when  he  con- 
signed His  Imperial  Majesty  to  the  lower  re- 
gions. But  the  spy  was  not  abashed;  he 
unblushingly  repeated  his  accusation,  and 
the  charge  being  proven,  the  man  was 
promptly  consigned  to  the  camp  jail  for  a 
term  of  three  weeks.  Upon  the  announce- 
ment of  the  sentence,  ominous  threats  were 
heard.     The  crowd  did  not  hesitate  to  ex- 

^6^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

press  the  particular  forms  of  vengeance  it 
would  visit  on  the  renegade,  v^ho,  apprehen- 
sive of  the  future,  besought  the  authorities 
for  protection.  The  officials  gravely  w^arned 
him  that  if  the  informer  were  threatened  or 
molested  in  any  way,  the  most  drastic  pun- 
ishment would  be  meted  out. 

One  day  we  were  paraded  and  commanded 
to  take  the  straw  from  the  sacks  serving  us 
as  mattresses.  We  learned  in  a  roundabout 
way  that  the  straw  was  to  be  sent  to  the 
mills  to  be  ground  as  a  constituent  for  our 
war  bread.  After  we  had  followed  instruc- 
tions, we  were  escorted  to  a  pile  of  wooden 
shavings  and  ordered  to  fill  our  sacks.  Those 
first  at  the  heap  secured  the  most  inviting 
shavings,  but  in  the  wild  good-natured 
struggle  that  ensued  much  of  the  material 
became  soiled  from  dirty  boots. 

Moreover,  we  discovered  that  the  shavings 
were  in  a  deplorably  wet  condition.  There 
was  an  outburst  of  indignation,  but  we  made 
the  best  of  the  situation  by  emptying  the 
sacks  upon  the  ground  in  hopes  that  the  sun 
would  dry  out  the  shavings. 

263 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

I  had  a  forbidden  instrument,  a  camera, 
concealed  upon  my  person,  and  it  was  my 
constant  companion.  The  spectacle  of  the 
mattress  shavings  upon  the  ground  sug- 
gested to  my  mind  a  picture  of  the  way  in 
which  Germans  looked  after  British  pris- 
oners, and  so,  click  went  the  shutter.  Look- 
ing up  suddenly,  the  moment  after  the  snap- 
shot had  been  made,  I  caught  sight  of  one  of 
the  renegade  Britishers  watching  me  nar- 
rowly. I  saw  that  I  had  been  detected;  and 
pretending  to  ignore  him  as  I  moved  away  I 
kept  him  in  the  corner  of  my  eye.  I  saw  him 
approach  one  of  the  guards  and  talk  with 
him,  pointing  in  my  direction.  The  soldier 
turned,  followed  me,  for  I  had  begun  to  move 
away,  and  hailed  me,  but  I  took  no  notice.  I 
quickened  my  step  and  he  did  likewise.  Then 
he  started  to  run.  So  did  I.  With  my  brain 
working  rapidly  I  dodged  around  the  corner 
of  a  barrack  with  him  in  hot  pursuit.  How 
could  I  get  rid  of  the  incriminating  camera? 
As  I  dived  through  one  of  the  buildings  I  was 
seized  with  a  sudden  inspiration.  Near  by 
was  a  latrine  and  into  it  I  darted  like  light- 
ning.   Seizing  a  sheet  of  paper  I  wrapped  the 

264 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

camera  in  it  and  threw  the  obscure  parcel 
into  the  pit. 

Up  came  the  soldier  with  my  accuser  at 
Tiis  heels.  The  soldier  rattled  out  a  tirade 
in  German  which  I  pretended  not  to  under- 
stand. 1  opened  my  eyes  wide,  shook  my 
head  to  signify  lack  of  comprehension,  and 
remarked,  ^*Sorry,  I  do  not  understand  Ger- 
man." 

A  comrade  who  happened  to  be  standing 
by,  turned  to  me  and  said,  "The  soldier  says 
you  have  been  taking  photographs  in  camp." 

"Yes,"  babbled  my  excited  accuser,  "I  saw 
him  take  a  peek-ture." 

"What,"  I  roared,  "I  take  a  photograph! 
The  man's  mad." 

But  my  accuser  was  persistent.  Nor  was 
the  soldier  to  be  put  off.  He  told  me  curtly 
that  I  should  have  to  go  with  him  to  the 
guardhouse. 

"Certainly!"  I  answered.  "We  will.  You 
have  charged  me  with  a  very  serious  crime. 
Come  along." 

I  seized  the  soldier's  arm  to  pull  him  to- 
ward the  guardroom. 

My  precipitancy  had  the  desired  effect. 

265 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

The  soldier  hesitated;  he  could  not  under- 
stand the  situation.  He  realized  that  he 
might  have  been  misinformed  or  perhaps 
have  arrested  the  w^rong  person. 

If  the  charge  proved  empty,  he  and  not  I 
vv^ould  receive  a  rap  over  the  knuckles.  He 
turned  to  the  man  who  had  given  me  av^ay 
and  they  had  a  spirited  altercation.  But  my 
accuser  v^as  not  to  be  denied. 

"I  tell  you,"  he  repeated,  punctuating  his 
v^ords  with  his  fist,  "I  saw  him  take  the 
photograph.  It  was  a  peek-ture  of  the 
shav-eengs." 

A  crowd  had  collected  and  were  enjoying 
the  fun,  guessing  from  my  behavior  that 
even  if  I  were  guilty  I  had  outwitted  my 
accuser.  The  fact  that  one  of  the  hated 
members  of  the  camp  had  been  caught  nap- 
ping gave  them  immense  delight. 

I  cut  further  discussion  short  by  seizing 
the  soldier  and  literally  pulling  him  to  the 
guardroom.  The  crowd  followed  and  we 
burst  into  the  office  unceremoniously.  There 
was  surprise  at  our  abrupt  entrance,  and  a 
spirited  confab  ensued. 

I  demanded  to  see  the  Baron.    The  officials 

^66 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

protested,  but  I  emphasized  the  enormity 
of  the  charge  against  me,  which  if  proved, 
exposed  me  to  the  risk  of  being  shot,  because 
I  had  originally  been  arrested  and  tried  as  a 
spy,  and  never  acquitted.  The  officials 
grumblingly  conceded  and  an  interpreter  was 
placed  at  my  disposal. 

I  related  my  story,  in  feigned  temper  and 
protesting  so  vehemently  as  to  provoke  the 
smiles  of  the  officer,  but  my  accuser  stuck  to 
his  guns.  The  officer,  presuming  that  a 
search  of  my  person  had  been  made  and  no 
incriminating  evidence  found,  was  disposed 
to  dismiss  the  charge  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand.  But  I  now  had  my  chance  to  com- 
plete the  discomfiture  of  the  despicable  in- 
former who  was  seeking  so  diligently  for 
crumbs  of  favor  from  the  tables  of  official- 
dom. I  insisted  that  I  should  be  searched. 
To  satisfy  me,  a  perfunctory  examination 
was  carried  out,  officials  running  their  hands 
lightly  over  my  pockets.  But  this  was  not 
good  enough  for  me.  Taking  off  my  coat 
and  vest,  I  insisted  upon  a  more  thorough 
search,  one  conducted  in  the  usual  German 
manner. 

36y 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Of  course,  it  was  barren  of  result.  My 
accuser,  now  thoroughly  discredited,  looked 
about  as  happy  as  a  whipped  dog;  and  the 
soldier  who  had  acted  sincerely  in  accord- 
ance with  his  duty,  feeling  he  had  been 
fooled,  turned  upon  his  erstwhile  ally  and 
treated  him  to  a  detailed  description  of  him- 
self that  was  more  forcible  than  elegant. 

With  my  honorable  discharge,  I  considered 
the  incident  closed,  but  my  colleagues  con- 
sidered the  time  a  psychological  one  to  ex- 
tract some  satisfaction  for  the  past  miseries 
they  had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  these  spy- 
ing gentry.  So  late  that  night,  a  crowd  of 
Britishers  made  their  way  cautiously  to  the 
barrack  where  the  traitor  was  quartered  in  a 
horse  box  with  five  other  British  prisoners. 

My  blood  was  thoroughly  up,  but  the  man 
refused  my  challenge  to  fight.  The  occu- 
pants of  the  box  were  in  a  quandary.  They 
hesitated  to  pitch  their  fellow  tenant  out  for 
fear  he  would  go  to  the  officials;  on  the 
other  hand  they  could  scarcely  side  with  him 
openly. 

The  tumult  was  now  sufficient  to  arouse 
the  soldier  on  duty  who  came  up.     But  he 

268 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

was  informed  that  we  were  going  to  settle 
this  matter  among  ourselves.  That  a  man 
who  called  himself  an  Englishman  and  be- 
trayed a  companion  in  order  to  curry  favor 
with  the  authorities  could  not  escape  punish- 
ment whatever  happened.  The  soldier  lis- 
tened, and  then  turning  on  his  heel,  said: 
"Very  well,  but  I  shall  not  see  it,"  and 
stumped  off  to  his  room.  This  action  was 
eloquent  of  the  guard's  opinion  of  this  kind 
of  ally.  There  was  a  lively  set-to  and  the 
man  received  the  drubbing  he  deserved. 

It  was  not  long  before  every  prisoner  en- 
tertaining German  sympathies  became 
known  to  us ;  and  we  dubbed  them  pro-Ger- 
mans, abbreviated  to  "P.  G.'s."  It  was  im- 
possible to  hurl  a  worse  epithet  than  "P.  G." 
at  a  man. 

Subsequently  a  change  was  made,  either 
because  the  authorities  had  gathered  all  the 
information  they  desired  through  the  "P. 
G.'s"  or  because  they  feared  that  the  hatred 
between  the  two  factions  would  result  in 
rioting.  All  the  prisoners  were  summoned 
to  parade. 
Having  fallen  in,  the  officer  bellowed: 

26g 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

"All  those  having  German  sympathies 
stand  forward." 

The  majority  of  the  prisoners,  taking  but 
little  interest  in  the  proceedings,  and  failing 
to  listen  very  attentively,  misunderstood  the 
word  sympathies  for  interests,  as  the  latter 
was  invariably  asked  on  these  occasions. 
Consequently,  a  large  number  of  men 
stepped  forward.  Those  of  us  who  had  heard 
aright  could  scarcely  believe  our  eyes.  We 
had  expected  the  "P.  G.'s"  to  answer  the 
summons  with  alacrity  but  here  were  many 
men  whose  loyalty  had  always  been  above 
suspicion.  There  was  a  pronounced  hiss- 
ing which  took  the  mistaken  men  by  sur- 
prise. Looking  around  at  us  and  seeing 
our  expressions  they  realized  some  mis- 
take had  been  made,  and  one  of  them 
asked  the  officer  to  repeat  the  question. 
As  he  did  so,  our  loyal  comrades  stepped 
back  into  ranks,  at  which  there  was  sup- 
pressed cheering.  They  were  unmerci- 
fully badgered  afterward  by  the  rest  of 
the  camp. 

Our  ranks  once  more  solid,  we  concentrat- 
ed our  hissing  upon  the  "P.  G.'s"  who  re- 

2yo 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

ceived  our  hostility  with  smirks  and  gibes. 
When  at  last  they  were  given  the  order  to 
march  to  the  racecourse  for  further  instruc- 
tions their  delight  knew  no  bounds.  Their 
unswerving  belief  in  Germanism  was  to  re- 
ceive its  due  reward.  They  were  going  to 
be  released. 

Two  days  later  it  was  our  turn  to  whoop 
with  delight.  We  learned  that  upon  reach- 
ing the  parade  ground,  these  pro-Germans 
received  a  rude  awakening.  After  being 
lined  up,  the  officer  in  command  advanced 
and  said  abruptly: 

"How  many  of  those  present  are  pre- 
pared to  join  the  German  army?" 

The  "P.  G.'s"  were  stunned.  This  was 
something  for  which  they  had  not  bargained. 
Their  enthusiasm  for  the  German  cause 
slumped  heavily. 

I  do  not  know  who  regarded  the  back- 
sliders with  greater  contempt — the  German 
officials  or  ourselves. 

I  do  not  think  the  authorities  secured 
many  recruits  for  the  Imperial  Army.  At 
all  events,  barely  a  handful  apparently  step- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ped  forward  from  the  ranks  to  buy  release  at 
such  a  price. 

But  that  parade  was  of  benefit  to  us — it 
revealed  our  enemies.  They  had  declared 
their  sympathies  openly.  The  feeling 
against  them  became  more  embittered  than 
ever.  The  wonder  is  that  open  fighting  did 
not  occur. 

The  authorities  were  quick  to  grasp  the 
state  of  affairs;  and  concluded  that  it  was 
preferable  to  remove  the  bone  of  contention. 
Accordingly  the  "P.  G.'s"  were  again  parad- 
ed, and  lock,  stock  and  barrel  were  trans- 
ferred to  a  separate  part  of  the  camp. 

But  herding  the  "P.  G.'s''  together  was  not 
without  its  disadvantages,  for  newly  arriving 
British  prisoners  were  invariably  assigned 
to  these  quarters  and  consequently  found 
themselves  avoided  by  the  rest  of  the  camp. 

One  may  ask  why  the  newly-arriving  loy- 
alists did  not  change  their  quarters  at  the 
first  opportunity?  Needless  to  say,  many 
did  so,  but  changing  quarters  was  discour- 
aged. It  would  have  played  havoc  with  our 
organization,   and   the   discontented   would 

2^2 


INTERNED    IN   GERMANY 

have  been  eternally  upon  the  move.  How- 
ever, the  matter  could  pfenerally  be  adjusted 
in  another  v^ay.  The  residents  of  a  friendly 
barrack,  having  extra  room,  would  offer  to 
take  in  a  new  arrival  of  loyalist  tendencies. 
In  such  instances  the  man  made  a  moonlight 
flit.  If  this  were  impossible,  he  had  to  grin 
and  bear  it. 

I  do  not  'think  there  were  any  depths  of 
infamy  to  which  iHese  men  were  not  ready 
to  descend.  When  the  British  Prisoners'  Re- 
lief Fund  was  inaugurated,  whereby  a  sum 
of  five  shillings — subsequently  reduced — was 
paid  through  the  American  Embassy,  the 
"P.  G.'s"  were  the  first  to  claim  it.  This 
fund  was  really  launched  to  assist  necessi- 
tous prisoners  among  us,  but  there  were  a 
very  great  number  of  the  poorer  members 
of  the  community,  who,  though  in  dire  need, 
were  too  proud  to  accept  it.  The  action  sa- 
vored too  much  of  charity  for  their  inde- 
pendent instincts.  But  the  "P.  G.'s"  had  no 
qualms  in  this  connection.  They  polled  up 
en  masse,  asked  for  it,  and  received  it  regu- 
larly. Among  this  coterie  there  were  many 
who  were  well  off,  but  even  they  did  not 

^73 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

hesitate  to  make  application  for  the  weekly 
payment,  and  openly  chuckled  about  their 
success  in  this  direction. 

The  circumstance  that  so-called  British- 
ers, who  had  openly  renounced  their  alle- 
giance to  the  British  cause,  were  weekly 
receiving  money  subscribed  in  Britain  for 
the  relief  of  the  needy  Britishers  interned 
in  Ruhleben,  added  to  our  disgust.  The  sub- 
ject was  discussed  time  after  time,  but  we 
could  do  nothing.  Nor  could  the  American 
Embassy  exercise  any  discretion.  The  rep- 
resentatives were  merely  distributing  the 
money,  doubtless  in  accordance  with  a  care- 
fully prepared  list  from  home,  the  authors  of 
which  were  obviously  ignorant  of  the  state 
of  affairs.  We  might  denounce  the  rene- 
gades as  Teutons,  but  the  German  nation 
was  not  prepared  to  accept  them  as  desir- 
able citizens. 

Their  pandering  to  the  Teuton  officials 
was  also  nauseating.  Whenever  an  officer 
passed,  a  "P.  G.,"  no  matter  what  he  was 
doing  at  the  moment,  would  come  briskly 
to  attention,  and  click  his  heels,  impervious 
to  the  glance  of  withering  scorn  with  which 

^74 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

his  boot-licking  action  was  received  by  the 
officer. 

Although  we  were  starved  as  regards 
news  of  the  outside  world  and  the  progress 
of  the  war,  we  always  knew  when  a  suppo- 
sitious German  victory  had  been  achieved, 
for  on  such  occasions  the  "P.  G/s"  held  wild 
jubilations.  The  culminating  celebration 
was  held  on  the  occasion  of  the  sinking  of 
the  Lusitania,  when  some  of  them  cheered 
and  all  of  them  were  hilarious.  When  we 
learned  the  cause  of  this  wild  mirth  our 
blood  boiled. 

The  'T.  G.'s"  remained  in  open  hostility 
to  the  loyalists  until  the  question  of  ex- 
changing prisoners  came  to  the  fore  and  an 
avenue  to  freedom  was  opened.  Then  these 
treacherous  wretches  suddenly  realized  that 
all  was  not  honey  under  the  German  flag  and 
forthwith  displayed  undue  readiness  to  seek 
the  protection  of  the  Union  Jack. 

Some  succeeded  in  their  petition  and  were 
included  among  the  first  batch  of  British 
prisoners  to  be  released  from  Ruhleben.  Con- 
sidering their  treachery  and  antagonism  to 
everything  British  while  interned,  the  public 

275 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

at  home  may  possibly  wonder  how  it  was 
that  they  secured  preference  over  the  loyal- 
ist. But  the  authorities  at  home  were  either 
entirely  ignorant  or  Rad  only  the  slightest 
knowledge  of  the  split  in  the  camp ;  and  they 
were  without  any  key  to  the  names  of  those 
of  German  sympathies,  for  we  could  not  re- 
fer to  the  subject  in  our  letters  home. 

One  experience  in  the  matter  of  exchange 
of  prisoners  is  worthy  of  narration.  The 
loyalist  element  in  camp  became  disturbed 
by  the  receipt  of  news  from  England  to  the 
effect  that  one  of  the  "P.  G.'s,"  Guidal  by 
name,  who  had  been  sent  home  a  month  pre- 
viously, had  secured  an  appointment  in  a 
south  coast  town.  The  details  were  too  defi- 
nite to  be  dismissed  as  mere  rumor;  among 
other  things,  his  precise  address  was  made 
known. 

Our  indignation  knew  no  bounds,  more  es- 
pecially when  we  recalled  that  this  miserable 
traitor  had  been  the  most  German  among 
the  pro-Germans,  and  had  been  unseemingly 
vociferous  in  the  cheering  which  went  up  up- 
on the  sinking  of  the  Lusitania.  We  were 
absolutely  unable  to  intervene  to  secure  a 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

redress  of  this  flagrant  abuse  of  patriotism, 
as  we  were  debarred  from  all  mention  of 
such  incidents  in  our  correspondence  with 
home.  A  certain  number  of  us  however,  met 
in  conclave,  and  took  a  solemn  pledge  that 
the  first  of  us  to  secure  release  should  spare 
no  effort  to  locate  and  denounce  him. 

As  I  was  the  first  of  the  number  to  gain 
my  freedom,  the  task  of  looking  up  this  man 
and  his  activities  devolved  upon  me.  I  com- 
menced investigations,  and  learned  that  the 
man  was  not  only  occupying  the  position  of 
tutor  to  English  boys,  but  that  he  was  on 
intimate  terms  with  another  master  in  the 
same  school  who  was  an  out-and-out  Ger- 
man and  who  was  actually  residing  in  a  dis- 
trict prohibited  to  aliens. 

While  prosecuting  my  enquiries  upon  the 
spot,  in  the  town  of  Worthing,  I  came  face  to 
face  in  the  street  with  the  despicable  rascal. 
I  eyed  him  rather  narrowly  to  make  certain 
that  it  was  he,  for  proper  food  and  clothing 
had  made  a  vast  difference  in  his  appearance. 
His  returning  glance  carried  recognition, 
and  I  accosted  him,  remarking: 

"Hullo!    How  are  you?" 

^77 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

He  looked  at  me  sheepishly,  seeming  half- 
disposed  to  disclaim  tht  acquaintance,  then 
realizing  this  was  impossible,  he  replied  with 
his  characteristic  deliberation: 

"Oh !    It's  Mr.  Ma-hone-ey/' 

I  was  not  disarmed  by  his  feigned  surprise 
and  tone  of  veiled  welcome,  but  inquired 
what  he  had  been  doing  since  leaving  Ruhle- 
ben. 

Evidently  convinced  that  I  knew  a  good 
deal  about  his  current  activities,  he  resorted 
to  a  candor  which  was  somewhat  disconcert- 
ing. He  admitted  having  secured  a  position 
as  assistant  in  a  school,  said  that  he  was  do- 
ing well,  was  comfortable,  and  was  among 
friends. 

The  information  my  inquiries  yielded  I 
handed  over  to  a  colleague  identified  with 
the  British  Empire  Union.  This  friend  made 
independent  inquiries,  and  these  inv^^stiga- 
tions  not  only  corroborated  my  story, 
but  were  graced  with  further  details  which 
were  more  than  sufficient  for  our  pur- 
pose. It  was  then  decided  to  make  a  per- 
sonal call  upon  this  renegade,  and  my 
friend,    accompanied    by    another    loyalist, 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

B ,     who     had     been     released     from 

Ruhleben,  proceeded  to  Worthing  to  have 
the  matter  thrashed   out   there   and   then. 

The   returned   prisoner   B volunteered 

additional  evidence  of  Guidal's  behavior 
at  Ruhleben  if  desired,  the  ultimate  object 
being  to  notify  the  authorities  of  the 
presence  of  this  highly  dangerous  individual 
in  a  south  coast  town. 

But  they  were  too  late — upon  arrival  at 
Worthing  they  found  both  of  their  birds  had 
flown.  The  two  had  evidently  gained  infor- 
mation that  the  authorities  were  on  their 
trail.  Ample  evidence  was  forthcoming  to 
establish  the  danger  of  Guidal  being  at  lib- 
erty; his  treachery  and  pro-German  activi- 
ties at  Ruhleben  were  alone  sufficient  to 
prove  that. 

It  is  hard  to  think  that  such  a  wretch 
gained  his  freedom  at  the  expense  of  some 
loyal  sufferer  who  stuck  to  his  flag  through 
every  test. 


^79 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

TRADING  IN  RUHLEBEN 

Although  for  a  few  weeks  Ruhleben  might 
very  aptly  have  been  called  "The  City  of 
Lost  Souls''  because  of  our  absolutely  aim- 
less existence,  it  was  not  long  before  the 
commercial  instinct  asserted  itself,  and  once 
felt,  developed  rapidly,  the  Britisher  fully 
justifying  his  claim  to  the  title  of  shop- 
keeper. 

In  the  heydey  of  its  prosperity  Ruhleben 
was  a  thriving  center.  Many  trades  flour- 
ished, and  the  row  of  shops — called  "can- 
teens"—  imparted  a  busy,  town-like  atmos- 
phere to  the  colony.  Bearing  in  mind  that 
this  prosperity  was  developed  from  the  most 
meager  material,  it  speaks  volumes  for  the 
ingenuity  and  initiative  of  some  of  Ruhle- 
ben's  inmates. 

The  cradle  of  Ruhleben  commerce  was 
Barrack  6,  and  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say 

280 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

that  it  was  the  Hebrew  element  which 
started  it.  A  number  of  Jewish  prisoners 
commenced  bartering  among  themselves, 
and  the  initial  transactions  were  of  the  most 
primitive  character — exchange  of  goods. 
But  the  articles  available  for  such  a  system 
of  trading  were  few  in  number  and  speedily 
traveled  around  the  barrack.  Those  who 
were  flush  of  funds  promptly  bought  any- 
thing available  for  disposal,  needless  to  say, 
at  a  ridiculous  price,  and  got  rid  of  the  ac- 
cumulated goods  at  prices  that  allowed  wide 
margins  of  profit. 

In  the  beginning,  although  trading  had  to 
be  carried  on  secretly,  the  diversity  of  ar- 
ticles which  could  be  secured  through  the 
Jewish  tradesmen  was  startling.  One  thing 
is  certain :  they  evidently  evaded  officialdom 
successfully  and  established  trading  rela- 
tions with  their  co-religionists  in  Germany. 
You  could  get  anything  you  might  desire,  no 
matter  how  extraordinary,  through  the 
Jewish  barrack.  Articles  in  universal  de- 
mand were  forthcoming  immediately,  while 
anything  special  was  generally  procurable 
within  a  few  days. 

281 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

I  was  instrumental  in  emphasizing  the 
trading  enterprise  of  the  Jewish  prisoners  to 
my  horse  box  companions.  To  my  mind 
''Lights  Out"  was  sounded  at  an  unearthly 
early  hour.  After  a  night  or  two  the  situa- 
tion grew  unbearable  and  I  informed  my 
companions  of  my  intention  to  put  in  an  hour 
or  two's  work  after  the  sentry  had  looked  us 
over  for  the  night.  I  intimated  that  I  was 
going  out  to  buy  some  candles. 

"Get  some  candles  in  Ruhleben,"  one  of  the 
men  chuckled,  ''why,  you  might  just  as  well 
try  to  walk  home  to  England!  Bet  you  a 
bob  you  don't  get  one !" 

"All  right,''  I  retorted,  "I'll  bet  you  a  bob 
I  do!" 

The  wager  was  clinched  and  I  sallied  forth 
on  what  was  put  down  as  a  hopeless  shop- 
ping expedition.  I  made  my  way  to  the 
Jewish  barrack  and  entered.  Not  being 
known  to  the  inmates,  who  were  very  clan- 
nish, I  was  regarded  with  ill-concealed  suspi- 
cion, and  my  discreet  interrogations  were 
received  with  an  emphatic  denial  of  all 
knowledge  concerning  a  chandler.  At  last 
I  espied  a  prisoner  with  whom  I  was  on  fairly 

28^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

intimate  terms.  I  made  known  my  request 
to  him.    He  looked  at  me  sideways. 

"Do  you  want  them  for  yourself?*' 

I  nodded  in  assent. 

He  slipped  away  in  the  darkness.  He  was 
gone  some  time  and  I  was  almost  beginning 
to  think  that  my  shilling  was  lost  when  I  felt 
two  candles  slipped  into  my  hand.  I  turned. 
It  was  my  Jewish  friend. 

"Fourpence  each/'  he  said. 

Clink  went  the  money  and  I  returned  to 
my  domicile  proudly  displaying  my  ''forbid- 
den" lights.  I  got  the  best  of  the  deal,  since 
the  wager  paid  for  the  candles  and  left  me 
fourpence  to  the  good. 

The  first  open  trading  was  conducted  in 
Barrack  6.  Tea,  coffee  and  cocoa  were  un- 
known luxuries  in  those  early  days;  we  had 
only  the  official  acorn  beverage.  One  day, 
two  or  three  of  the  Jewish  prisoners  came 
around  with  a  steaming  bucket  of  tea  which 
they  offered  at  a  penny  a  cup.  This  minia- 
ture "A.B.C."  proved  a  tremendous  success, 
and  the  proprietors  could  not  meet  the  de- 
mand. The  bucket  "vas  used  for  a  distress- 
ing   variety    of    purposes,    but    we    never 

^^3 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

thought  of  that.  The  steaming  beverage 
was  such  a  treat  that  ft  stifled  all  specula- 
tions. 

This  first  company  proved  such  a  success 
that  it  aroused  the  envy  of  another  group  of 
Jewish  traders,  who  decided  to  operate  in 
opposition.  The  competition  was  hailed  with 
delight,  since  it  served  to  keep  prices  steady. 
Both  the  Ruhleben  ''A.B.C."  and  the  "Lyons" 
tea-shops  did  a  thriving  business  and  must 
have  proved  financial  successes.  The  walk- 
ing coffee  stalls  by  this  time  would  doubtless 
have  become  huge  businesses  had  they  not 
been  cut  short  by  the  initiation  of  self-gov- 
ernment. 

A  third  company  launched  out  upon  a  dif- 
ferent enterprise.  It  supplied  eatables — not 
in  variety  or  plenty — but  so  appetizing  as  to 
render  the  scheme  financially  successful. 
They  brought  around  small  sandwiches,  of 
the  cheese  variety  for  the  most  part,  which 
they  cleared  out  at  from  one  penny  to  three- 
pence each.  These  sandwiches  were  small, 
and  at  times  of  doubtful  quality,  owing  to 
fluctuations  in  the  grade  of  raw  materials, 
but  coming  as  a  distinct  relief  to  the  prevail- 

284 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

ing  rations  they  were  heartily  received  by 
those  who  had  the  wherewithal  to  pay. 

The  financial  successes  of  the  enterprising 
Jewish  fraternity  stimulated  a  youth  in  one 
of  the  other  barracks  to  a  commercial  out- 
break in  another  direction.  He  was  only 
about  fifteen  years  of  age  but  as  keen  as  a 
March  wind,  and  had  been  serving  on  a  ship 
as  cabin  boy  when  he  was  arrested  while  his 
vessel  was  lying  in  a  German  port.  He  de- 
cided to  start  off  as  a  shoeblack  and  secretly 
secured  some  decrepit  brushes  and  some 
blacking. 

His  venture  came  as  a  complete  surprise. 
As  we  sauntered  through  the  camp  one 
morning  we  were  astonished  to  see  a  shoe- 
black stand  pitched  at  the  corner  of  one  of 
the  barracks,  with  it's  owner  inviting  every- 
one in  lusty  tones  to  have  "boots  cleaned." 
Probably  for  the  first  time  since  their  arrest 
the  prisoners  realized  the  condition  of  their 
footwear.  The  shoeblack,  with  the  para- 
phernalia of  his  trade  displayed,  revived 
memories  of  London,  and  the  very  operation 
of  submitting  to  a  boot-clean  served  to  trans- 
port us  in  thought  to  the  metropolis  once 

283 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

more.     Imagination  went  a  long  long  way 
in  Ruhleben. 

Trade  was  brisk  and  continuous  through- 
out the  day,  and  his  pockets  were  heavy 
when  he  returned  to  his  barrack  in  the  even- 
ing. His  charges  were  distinctly  of  the 
town,  and  tips  rained  upon  him  as  liberally 
as  if  he  had,  indeed,  been  back  home.  He  be- 
came a  familiar  landmark,  it  being  one  of 
the  accepted  laws  of  the  camp  that  a  man 
was  free  to  establish  himself  upon  a  certain 
spot  in  the  public  quarter  and  ply  his  trade 
unmolested  so  long  as  he  desired.  The 
original  bootblack  had  not  been  on  his  pitch 
many  days  when  a  rival  in  trade  appeared, 
followed  by  another,  then  another  and 
another.  They  came  in  such  rapid  succes- 
sion as  to  convey  the  impression  that 
boot-cleaning  in  Ruhleben  was  the  short 
cut  to  affluence,  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  vied  for  patronage  was  amusing  and 
instructive.  The  pioneer  was  content  with 
a  humble  box,  but  some  of  those  who  came 
later  sought  wealth  rapidly  by  doing  the 
work  in  style.  They  labored  long  and 
hard    contriving    comfortable    easy    chairs 

286 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

and  upholstering  them,  the  ultimate  result 
being  that  the  shoeblack's  stand  developed 
into  a  replica  of  the  finest  display  of 
the  American  way  of  doing  things  in  this 
field. 

To  take  a  shoe-shine  upon  Bond  Street 
became  as  inseparable  from  the  fashionable 
doings  of  Ruhleben  as  an  equestrian  spurt 
in  the  Rotten  Row  at  home.  The  dude, 
cigar  in  mouth,  would  loll  in  affected  style 
in  the  chair,  idly  regarding  passers-by,  and 
ignoring  chaff  and  banter,  while,  perhaps, 
one  of  his  loft-colleagues  wrestled  with  his 
boots.  As  may  be  supposed,  the  chairs  were 
preferred  to  the  less  pretentious  boxes,  and 
the  shoeblacks  who  boasted  only  the  latter 
had  to  content  themselves  with  the  less 
wealthy  clientele  of  the  camp  whose  patron- 
age was  far  less  steady  and  remunerative. 
In  an  effort  to  recapture  the  "smart  set"  the 
shoeboys  embellished  their  boxes  with  many 
weird  and  attention-compelling  signs  exe- 
cuted in  brass  studs,  and  bold  plates  secured 
from  home  setting  forth  that  "Peach  Bloom 
Boot  Polish"  or  "Night  and  Sparrow's  Black- 
ing" was  superior  to  all  others.    But  these 

287 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

efforts  were  of  no  avail  and  they  gradually 
went  out  of  business. 

The  youth  who  had  started  the  enterprise 
was  not  a  whit  dismayed  by  the  turn  of 
events,  but  set  to  work  on  another  scheme. 
Securing  possession  of  odd  pieces  of  canvas 
and  coarse  sacking,  he  cut  them  up  into  bags 
filled  them  with  straw,  and  advertised 
pillows  for  sale.  As  pillows  were  at  that  time 
an  unknown  comfort  at  Ruhleben,  he  once 
more  did  a  flourishing  business,  especially 
as  no  more  straw  could  be  obtained  in  camp, 
the  authorities  having  carefully  gathered 
every  wisp  upon  which  they  could  lay  their 
hands.  How  and  where  the  boy  obtained  his 
supply  was  more  than  we  could  find  out ;  his 
first  business  venture  had  taught  him  the 
necessity  of  silence  concerning  his  business 
methods  and  he  carefully  concealed  his 
source  of  supply. 

When  ordinary  commerce  flagged  in  the 
camp  as  a  result  of  communal  trading,  he 
still  kept  things  going,  although  his  periods 
of  activity  in  any  one  line  grew  gradually 
briefer.  One  of  the  most  remunerative 
spasms  of  this  description  was  raffling  five 

288 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

mark  (five  shillings)  notes  to  the  crowd. 
As  a  rule  he  persuaded  from  80  to  100  men 
to  have  a  go  at  a  penny  a  time  so  that  the 
occupation  was  highly  profitable.  He  was 
ready  to  sell  five-mark  notes  all  day  so  long 
as  he  could  rake  in  from  7s.  to  8s.  6d.  in 
pennies  on  each  gamble.  The  plunge  was 
off  when  the  draw  was  not  likely  to  exceed 
five  shillings  in  the  aggregate,  the  exchange 
of  two  sixpences  for  a  shilling  being  sheer 
waste  of  time  in  his  opinion.  There  were 
very  few  ventures  upon  which  he  embarked 
out  of  which  he  did  not  clear  a  handsome 
return.  "Get  in  and  out  quickly  before  the 
novelty  loses  its  pulF'  was  his  motto.  The 
boy  was  candid.  He  was  out  to  make  as 
much  money  as  he  could.  He  had  a  mother 
at  home,  and  she  and  her  welfare  were  fore- 
most in  his  thoughts. 

Money  was  plentiful  in  Ruhleben  Camp. 
I  doubt  if  there  is  a  town  of  similar  size  in 
any  part  of  the  world  which  could  point  to 
so  much  wealth.  But  the  opportunities  for 
spending  it  were  severely  restricted.  One 
may,  perhaps,  wonder  how  such  a  state  of 
affairs  could  prevail  but  it  must  be  remem- 

28g 


INTERNED    JN    GERMANY 

bered  that  our  ranks  were  drawn  from 
every  strata  of  society.  We  had  one  or  two 
extremely  wealthy  individuals,  a  large 
sprinkling  of  others  who  were  very  well  off, 
while  a  big  proportion  were  drawn  from 
the  comfortably  situated  commercial  class. 
A  large  percentage  of  these  were  in  regular 
receipt  of  money  from  home. 

When  the  camp  settled  down  under  com- 
munal government,  a  system  of  controlling 
the  volume  of  money  in  circulation  was  in- 
troduced. The  camp  authorities  decided  that 
unlimited  distribution  and  possession  of 
money  witliin  the  prison  would  exercise  a 
disastrous  effect,  and  accordingly,  the  gov- 
ernment acted  as  bankers.  Prisoners  who 
received  remittances  in  excess  of  a  certain 
sum  deposited  them  with  the  authorities  and 
were  permitted  to  draw  regularly  upon  their 
accounts,  although  no  weekly  withdrawal 
was  supposed  to  exceed  ten  shillings.  The 
imposition  of  this  rule  insured  the  depositor 
having  ample  funds  for  immediate  needs, 
and  it  could  be  exceeded  if  there  were  suffi- 
cient reason,  as  for  example,  the  purchase  of 
clothing  or  house  equipment. 

2go 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

This  communal  banking  system  offered 
protection  against  crime  and,  moreover,  by 
restricting  the  spending  capacity  of  the 
wealthier  inmates  maintained  a  more  har- 
monious feeling  in  camp.  Had  the  poorer 
residents  seen  a  reckless  expenditure  of 
money  on  the  part  of  the  wealthy,  resent- 
ment would  have  been  inevitable,  especially 
if  the  rich  prisoners  had  been  in  the  position 
to  lay  in  large  stocks  of  food  because  they 
had  the  cash  to  take  advantage  of  the 
market.  Credit  was  unknown  in  Ruhleben; 
the  rich  prisoner  had  to  pay  cash  like  his 
poorest  confrere,  and  was  unable  to  buy  be- 
yond the  extent  of  the  money  in  his  pocket. 

Yet,  for  some  reason  or  other,  many  of 
these  wealthier  prisoners  suffered  from  pro- 
longed spasms  of  financial  cramp,  due  in  mj'- 
opinion  to  their  readiness  to  keep  camp- 
trading  going  briskly.  They  certainly  did 
not  believe  in  hoarding  their  money,  and  free 
currency  circulation  naturally  led  to  the 
social  betterment  of  the  camp,  but  their 
action  had  one  inevitable  result.  Money- 
lending  became  an  established  occupation. 
So  far  as  Ruhleben  was  concerned  there  was 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

no  or  very  little  risk;  the  remittances  came 
regularly  and  all  debts  were  immediately 
discharged. 

I  myself  practised  money-lending  on  a 
small  scale  but  charged  no  interest.  I  had 
set  up  as  an  engraver  and  jev^eler  and  found 
my  business  highly  profitable,  but  I  v^as 
alw^ays  apprehensive  concerning  the  safety 
of  my  money.  By  lending  it  out  in  small 
amounts  to  various  prisoners  I  virtually 
banked  it.  Moreover,  I  discovered  money- 
lending  to  be  an  excellent  stepping  stone  to 
the  sale  of  jew^elry,  and  I  gradually  estab- 
lished a  clientele  that  I  could  notify  as  soon 
as  I  had  a  new  line  of  goods  of  which  to 
dispose.  Thus,  for  instance,  when  I  received 
a  consignment  of  cigarettes  which  I  had  to 
clear  up  at  once  before  the  authorities  con- 
fiscated them,  I  had  only  to  let  my  patrons 
know  that  "coffin  nails"  were  in  stock,  and 
I  usually  received  sufficient  orders  to  get 
rid  of  my  stock  immediately  without  going 
beyond  this  ring  of  customers. 

When  the  commercial  possibilities  of  the 
camp  came  to  be  realized  every  prisoner  with 
an  ounce  of  enterprise  ventured  into  some 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

field  of  activity,  but  the  majority  failed  to 
stick  to  their  jobs.  After  a  few  days,  the 
occupation  lost  its  interest  and  they  were 
ready  to  sell  out  their  remaining  stocks  at 
ridiculously  low  prices.  Nearly  every  enter- 
prise was  apt  to  be  a  nine  days'  wonder; 
and  the  rolling  stone  had  a  glorious  time. 
To-day  it  would  be  dealing  in  clothes ;  a  week 
hence  cobbling  would  be  the  craze,  to  give 
way  in  turn  to  tailoring  or  some  other  form 
of  enterprise.  Trade  booms  came  and  went 
in  bewilderingly  rapid  succession,  but  few 
callings  survived;  and  by  the  time  the  rush 
was  over,  more  money  had  been  lost  than 
gained. 

This  cult  of  the  "craze"  was  demonstrated 
in  various  directions,  notably  in  connection 
with  what  might  be  termed  the  fashions. 
One  morning  one  of  the  dons  created  con- 
sternation in  the  street  by  appearing  with 
his  hair  neatly  parted  in  the  center  and  care- 
fully plastered  down  on  each  side  with  a 
glossy  finish.  Immediately,  every  prisoner 
hastened  back  to  his  barrack  to  brush  his 
hair  in  the  same  way.  Parting  in  the  center 
became  the  vogue :  to  abstain  from  the  latest 

^93 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

mode  was  to  be  ranked  as  a  complete  out- 
sider in  the  camp.  Then  another  leader  of 
fashion  conceived  the  idea  of  allowing  his 
beard  to  grow.  Everybody  else  did  like- 
wise. Later  the  clean-shaven  craze  came  in, 
and  beards  vanished  as  if  by  magic.  Then 
the  moustache  had  a  run,  and  so  it  went  on. 
No  fashion  enjoyed  a  long  vogue,  with  the 
exception,  perhaps,  of  the  beard,  which  was 
found  to  be  an  excellent  protection  to  the 
face  during  the  bitter  winter  weather.  But 
such  crazes  were  not  without  their  beneficial 
features.  They  stimulated  individual  enter- 
prise, created  trade,  and  encouraged  the  cir- 
culation of  money,  which,  after  all,  was  the 
primary  consideration  of  those  prisoners 
who  had  to  keep  things  going  by  hook  or 
crook  in  the  determination  to  turn  a  few 
shillings  wherewith  to  buy  the  fuel  to  keep 
the  human  engine  going. 

Individual  enterprise  in  Ruhleben  had  a 
big  opportunity  and  a  highly  successful  run, 
but  it  was  interrupted  summarily.  It  was 
not  free  from  disadvantages.  Budding 
princes  of  commerce  who  failed  to  make 
good,  and  who  tired  of  their  businesses,  sold 

^94 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

out  at  low  prices.  One  or  two  of  the  more 
astute  prisoners,  trained  men  of  commerce, 
were  always  ready  to  acquire  languishing 
concerns  possessed  of  any  promise  of  suc- 
cess, and  consequently,  there  was  the  danger 
of  monopolies  becoming  established,  and  the 
dread  of  trust  operations  in  Ruhleben 
brought  about  a  movement  which  ruled  out 
the  individual  business  man,  except  within 
certain  limitations,  as  narrated  in  the  fol- 
lowing chapter. 


^95 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  TRADING  BOOM 

Among  the  many  innovations  of  the  com- 
munal government  which  met  with  whole- 
hearted approval  was  the  prohibition  of  in- 
dividual trading  in  necessary  articles.  The 
term  was  wide  in  its  interpretation,  com- 
prising foodstuffs,  clothing,  in  short,  any- 
thing which  was  in  widespread  demand 
and  to  the  benefit  of  the  community. 
It  was  a  demonstration  of  socialistic 
trading  upon  a  comprehensive  scale,  and, 
all  things  considered,  proved  a  com- 
plete success.  It  ruled  out  the  profiteer; 
secured  control  of  the  supply  of  neces- 
saries which,  in  turn,  contributed  to 
equitable  distribution;  and  insured  prison- 
ers obtaining  what  articles  were  urgently 
required  at  a  reasonable  price. 

It  was  not  only  the  communal  government 
which  brought  about  the  disappearance  of 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  individual  tradesman.  The  German 
authorities  acquiesced  in  the  proposal,  and, 
in  fact,  took  steps  to  see  that  private  trading 
in  necessary  articles  was  suppressed.  To 
venture  into  such  a  field  was  to  invite  cer- 
tain disaster  and  punishment.  The  ofificial 
action  was  prompted  by  motives  vastly 
different  from  those  of  the  camp  govern- 
ment. The  latter  acted  merely  from 
the  defensive  point  of  view;  the  former 
lent  its  powerful  co-operation  because  it 
drew  7yi  per  cent,  commission  upon  the 
income  derived  from  trading  operations. 
Clandestine  trading  in  necessaries  would 
have  deprived  the  German  authorities  of  a 
certain  amount  of  revenue;  hence  the  en- 
ergy it  displayed  in  suppressing  individual 
enterprise. 

As  the  demand  for  necessaries  was  far 
in  excess  of  the  supply  and  the  field  offered 
attractive  possibilities  to  aspiring  Universal 
Providers,  it  may  be  thought  that  the  as- 
sumption of  trading  operations  in  this  con- 
nection by  the  communal  authorities  would 
effectively  smother  individual  initiative,  but 
this  was  not  so.    It  merely  obliged  ambitious 

^97 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

traders  to  become  more  daring  in  their  un- 
dertakings. They  were  free  to  embark  upon 
any  venture  which  did  not  rank  as  a  neces- 
sity. Thus,  for  example,  I  set  up  as  an 
engraver  and  jeweler.  Another  prisoner 
was  skilled  in  marble  carving  and  polishing, 
and  he  was  permitted  to  ply  his  craft  un- 
molested. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that 
sufficient  scope  was  granted  to  the  indus- 
trious to  build  up  a  business.  The  com- 
munal ruling  had  one  beneficial  effect:  it 
eliminated  the  get-rich-quick  type  of  trader, 
who  even  in  the  internment  camp  was  alert 
to  exploit  his  fellows  if  the  opportunity  were 
presented. 

To  recapitulate  all  the  ways  and  means 
whereby  shillings  were  earned  at  Ruhleben 
Camp  would  be  wearisome.  The  majority 
became  infected  with  the  money-making 
bacillus,  and  no  job  was  considered  too 
arduous  or  humble  so  long  as  it  brought  an 
adequate  reward.  From  the  first,  waiting 
in  the  queue  at  the  parcels  office  for  a  pres- 
ent from  home  was  tedious,  and  it  became 
additionally  irksome   later  on   if  one  hap- 

2^8 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

pened  to  be  established  in  business,  as  it  in- 
volved shutting  up  shop,  possibly  for  sev- 
eral hours.  If  a  prisoner  were  ill  and  un- 
able to  leave  his  quarters,  he  felt  the  absence 
of  the  parcel  which  he  knew  was  waiting, 
with  especial  keenness,  as  it  probably  con- 
tained something  of  which  he  was  in  serious 
need,  such  as  a  tin  of  milk  or  nourishing 
British  bread. 

One  day  a  prisoner  suggested  that  he 
be  permitted  to  fetch  a  sick  prisoner's  parcel. 
The  man,  who  was  too  ill  to  fetch  it  himself, 
gladly  accepted  the  offer  and  gave  his  com- 
rade the  requisite  authority.  Up  to  this 
time  we  had  been  somewhat  doubtful  as  to 
whether  the  authorities  would  hand  over  a 
parcel  to  anyone  but  its  lawful  owner,  and 
so  the  experiment  was  followed  somewhat 
anxiously.  The  man  came  back  with  the 
parcel,  and  related  that  no  objections  had 
been  raised,  the  officials  accepting  the  writ- 
ten authority  as  completely  relieving  them 
of  all  responsibility  in  case  of  a  dispute. 

The  man  who  had  fulfilled  the  errand  was 
rewarded  with  a  "tip,"  and  this  reward  set 
him  thinking.    He  offered  to  serve  any  other 

^99 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

prisoner  in  a  similar  capacity,  at  a  nominal 
charge,  and  made  such  a  good  thing  out  of 
the  job  that  in  a  short  time  we  could  point 
to  an  efficient  service  of  professional  parcel 
clearers. 

At  that  time  the  system  of  clearing  the 
parcels  from  the  office  was  not  organized, 
and  this  service  proved  wonderfully  con- 
venient. The  parcel  clearers  divided  the 
camp  into  territories,  to  avoid  competition 
and  confusion.  They  would  make  the  trip 
to  the  official  notice-board,  notify  each  pris- 
oner therein  that  a  parcel  was  awaiting 
claim,  and  request  the  necessary  written 
authority  to  clear  it.  Armed  with  this  dec- 
laration they  took  their  position  in  the  queue* 
presented  themselves  at  the  office  window, 
and  secured  delivery.  After  they  had  made 
one  or  two  such  appearances  at  the  window, 
their  faces,  as  well  as  the  list  of  prisoners 
for  whom  they  were  acting,  became  familiar 
to  the  officers  in  charge,  and  the  parcels 
were  handed  over  without  delay. 

Parcel-clearing  prevailed  until  the  whole 
system  of  distributing  the  parcels  was  placed 
upon  more  scientific  footing  with  two  win- 

Soo 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

dows  "A  to  K,"  and  "L  to  Z."  This  method 
upset  the  simplicity  of  collection,  since  a 
man  collecting  parcels  from  both  win- 
dows had  to  attach  himself  to  the  end 
of  each  queue  to  await  his  turn.  Parcel- 
clearing  then  lost  its  attractions  because  it 
took  longer  to  earn  the  money  incidental  to 
the  errands,  and  so  the  service  fell  off,  al- 
though it  is  still  practised  upon  a  less  com- 
prehensive scale. 

These  collectors  also  served  another  use- 
ful purpose,  somewhat  reminiscent  of  the 
District  Messenger  Service  of  London.  I 
have  already  referred  to  the  fact  that  the 
communal  shops  announced  when  certain 
articles  of  food  were  on  hand  and  how 
queues  formed  outside  these  shops.  A  pris- 
oner could  call  upon  one  of  the  messengers 
to  assume  a  position  in  the  queue  for  him 
and  then  at  a  later  hour  exchange  places 
with  him.  It  was  a  highly  convenient  serv- 
ice,- and  widely  appreciated,  while  the  cost 
was  only  twopence! 

When  we  were  first  interned  the  German 
Government  reduced  its  expenditure  upon 
culinary  articles  to  the  minimum,  and  we 

30J 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  only  supplied  with  basins.  We  felt 
the  absence  of  plates,  knives  and  forks 
keenly,  until  one  prisoner  secured  a  stock 
and  started  a  prosperous  business.  They 
were  apparently  purchased  from  a  German 
firm,  but  we  never  troubled  our  heads  over 
the  thought  of  trading  with  the  enemy,  so 
eager  were  we  to  secure  the  utensils,  and 
we  willingly  paid  the  enterprising  trades- 
man's prices,  which  were  certainly  at  war 
level. 

The  introduction  of  plates  gave  birth  to 
another  lucrative  calling.  This  was  a  dish- 
washing service,  and  as  hot  water  was  then 
a  luxury,  only  obtainable  from  the  kitchen, 
there  was  not  a  single  man  among  us  who 
could  truthfully  confess  that  he  appreciated 
the  task.  The  appearance  of  the  service 
was  hailed  with  delight,  and  when  we  com- 
menced to  receive  parcels  from  home,  the 
dish-washers  did  a  thriving  business.  Their 
charges  were  trivial  in  comparison  with  the 
service  they  rendered,  and  they  deserved 
every  penny  they  earned.  The  heating  ap- 
paratus attached  to  each  barrack  was 
equipped  with  an  exhaust  steam  pipe  dis- 

302 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

charging  into  the  open  air  through  the  side 
wall;  and  at  these  the  dish-washers  used 
to  congregate,  armed  with  small  basins  of 
water  which  they  held  so  that  the  steam 
could  play  upon  the  water  and  warm  it,  an 
arm-breaking  task,  for  ten  minutes  exposure 
was  necessary  to  take  the  chill  off  the  water. 
Another  occupation  was  created  by  the 
residents  in  the  lofts  and  horse  boxes,  who 
appointed  orderlies  to  keep  the  barracks 
clean  and  neat.  The  appointment  lasted  as 
long  as  the  orderly  cared  to  hold  it.  His 
weekly  salary  was  paid  by  the  occupants, 
the  usual  contribution  from  each  being  10 
pfennigs — one  penny — per  week,  although 
some  of  the  wealthy  prisoners  gave  more. 
In  the  horse  boxes,  this  service  was  supple- 
mented by  that  of  "fags."  The  fag  was  not 
posted  to  a  single  box  but  had  a  regular 
round  of  patrons.  His  duties  were  keeping 
the  apartment  clean,  making  the  beds  and 
performing  similar  services.  The  average 
weekly  payment  for  this  was  about  S  shill- 
ings a  box.  When  a  prisoner  was  fagging 
to  three,  four  or  half  a  dozen  boxes  regularly, 
his  weekly  aggregate  was  not  to  be  despised. 

303 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Still  another  prisoner  was  inspired  to  make 
money  by  the  obvious  need  of  laundering  fa- 
cilities in  the  camp  and  he  set  up  as  a  laun- 
dryman.  It  was  a  case  of  wash  in  the  even- 
ing and  return  the  following  morning,  as 
many  of  the  prisoners  had  but  one  shirt  and 
one  pair  of  socks.  This  individual  found 
himself  in  great  demand,  but  it  is  doubtful 
if  his  venture  paid  him,  for  soap  meant  a 
heavy  investment  and  the  clothes  were  so 
soiled  as  to  require  hard  rubbing.  Even 
then  it  was  a  subject  for  friendly  discus- 
sion as  to  whether  the  clothes  were  not 
dirtier  after  than  before — at  all  events  their 
appearance  did  not  undergo  improvement. 
His  initiative  sufficed  to  set  a  laundry  boom 
going.  There  was  a  run  on  soap  supplies 
and  the  washerman  worked  hard  and  long, 
but  a  strong  objection  was  raised  to  the  lofts 
being  turned  into  drying  rooms  at  night. 
We  could  have  tolerated  the  depressing  sight 
presented  by  the  lines  of  saturated  clothing, 
but  wet  bedding  did  not  contribute  to  the 
general  comfort;  and  the  prisoners  ordered 
the  workers  to  dry  their  clothes  outside. 
This  was  done,  though  unwillingly. 

304 


S^^ia^  oiAxd  Sp<MwllcuL.    ^^   ^ 


A&S.U. SAUCE 


NOTHrNG       LIKE      IT, 


PRICE  50  PFENNIGS. 

Cover   design   of   the   Christmas,   1916,   number   of 
The    "Ruhleben    Camp    Magazine." 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

No  longer  was  it  possible  for  a  prisoner 
to  have  his  undergarments  washed  out  over 
night  and  dried  in  readiness  for  morning.  At 
least  a  day  outside  on  the  line  was  neces- 
sary; and  those  who  could  not  afford  a 
change  of  clothing  either  had  to  continue 
wearing  what  they  possessed  until  it 
would  no  longer  hold  together  or  pass  a 
day  in  bed  while  it  was  laundered.  Gen- 
erally speaking,  the  enterprise  was  not 
popularly  acclaimed-  still  in  accordance 
with  the  trend  of  things  at  Ruhleben 
it  had  its  boom.  After  we  demanded 
that  the  drying  be  conducted  in  the 
open  air,  the  limited  open  space  out- 
side the  barracks — this  was  before  the 
days  of  the  "field" — became  crossed  with 
a  gridiron  of  lines  upon  which  the 
washed  garments  flapped  wildly,  trans- 
forming the  area  into  a  scene  sugges- 
tive of  the  backyards  of  the  London  tene- 
ment district.  We  insured  our  comfort  at 
night,  but  we  suffered  untold  miseries  dur- 
ing the  day. 

I,  myself,  was  not  free  from  the  desire 
to  try  my  hand  at  something  to  earn  money, 

305 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

for  I  needed  it  badly.  I  commenced  in  a 
humble  way,  washing  shirts  at  a  penny  a 
time,  then  embarking  upon  dishes,  until  I 
found  it  unprofitable.  Later,  I  advertised 
that  I  was  open  to  buying  anything,  and  was 
therewith  snowed  under  by  the  ensuing 
volume  of  business,  especially  in  old  boots. 
After  that  I  ventured  as  a  professor  of 
phrenology,  and  ''feeling  bumps"  in  Ruhle- 
ben  was  very  profitable  while  it  lasted.  But 
my  sheet  anchor  was  engraving,  which  I 
diligently  prosecuted  for  several  months, 
with  jewelry  and  watches  as  side  lines.  The 
venture  proved  a  great  success,  notwith- 
standing several  Teuton  hunts  through  my 
little  shop  for  articles  wrought  of  gold,  ex- 
peditions void  of  profit  for  those  concerned. 
Tobacco  was  always  welcome  in  Ruhle- 
ben,  and  it  mattered  little  what  sort  so  long 
as  it  could  be  smoked.  British  cigarettes 
were  considered  articles  de  luxe,  although 
those  which  came  in  the  parcels  from  home 
were  often  of  the  cheapest  variety.  When- 
ever possible,  I  placed  British  cigarettes  on 
sale  and  a  rush  of  trade  ensued.  I  was  in- 
clined to  be  selective  in  my  choice  of  cus- 

306 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tomers,  preferring  to  sell  them  to  my  regu- 
lar clientele,  for  this  served  to  keep  my 
trade  connection  alive.  I  had  a  rule  never 
to  sell  more  than  tv^enty-five  at  a  time  to 
any  one  customer,  although  I  often  had  the 
chance  to  dispose  of  more.  On  one  occasion 
a  prisoner  offered  to  buy  out  my  whole 
supply  at  very  generous  terms,  but  I 
suspected  him  of  wanting  to  corner  the 
market  and  refused  his  tempting  offer.  Such 
attempts  were  frequently  made;  sometimes 
they  proved  successful,  at  others,  the  plun- 
ger burned  his  fingers.  Success  turned  on 
one's  ability  to  jump  in  and  out  quickly.  One 
never  knew  what  the  next  day's  parcels 
would  bring  to  upset  any  cornering  scheme; 
moreover,  public  fancy  was  fickle  and  it 
was  risky  to  repeat  a  successful  venture. 

It  was  my  decision  to  specialize  in  one 
line  of  goods,  to  which  I  attribute  my  com- 
mercial success.  Once  I  discovered  a  Jew- 
ish fellow-prisoner  who  had  a  stock  of  wrist 
watches  with  which  he  had  not  been  suc- 
cessful. I  got  in  touch  with  him  and  offered 
to  buy  the  lot,  stating  my  terms  of  pur- 
chase.   To  him  the  price  seemed  ridiculous, 

307 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

but  I  held  out,  and  as  he  was  anxious  to 
get  rid  of  them,  he  finally  came  down  to  my 
figure.  I  sold  every  watch  before  many 
hours  had  passed  and  at  an  attractive  price, 
to  his  intense  disgust.  He  thought  I  had  been 
fairly  landed  with  a  sticking  line  and  had 
been  chuckling  at  his  scoop  in  getting  rid 
of  them.  He  was  a  commercial  sport,  how- 
ever, and  offered  to  sell  me  another  consign- 
ment at  the  same  figure. 

One  might  wonder  what  possibilities  for 
engraving  could  exist  at  Ruhleben,  yet  it 
kept  me  working  from  morning  to  night 
as  hard  as  I  could.  When  I  started  my 
business  I  canvassed  the  camp  from  end  to 
end,  creating  trade  and  urging  everyone  to 
order  some  inscribed  memento  of  the  in- 
ternment camp.  Orders  rained  in  upon  me. 
Watches,  links,  brooches  and  souvenirs  of 
all  sorts  were  brought  to  me  to  receive  in- 
scriptions. I  cut  the  price  to  half  of  those 
prevailing  at  home,  for  I  was  in  desperate 
need  of  employment  to  distract  my 
thoughts,  and  as  engraving  calls  for  com- 
plete concentration  I  was  able  to  occupy  my 
mind  very  efifectively. 

30S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Cups  and  other  prizes  awarded  at  the 
sports,  and  also  presentations  were  entrusted 
to  my  charge  to  receive  inscriptions, 
and  some  of  these  undertakings  proved 
exceedingly  difficult.  One  job  which  I 
regard  with  intense  pride  was  the  en- 
graving of  a  pair  of  sleeve  links  pre- 
sented by  the  canteen  staff  to  Mr.  Pyke 
as  a  recognition  of  his  masterly  direc- 
tion of  that  difficult  enterprise.  The 
order  called  for  the  engraving  of  170  letters 
upon  the  four  surfaces,  each  of  which  was 
about  the  size  of  a  threepenny  piece.  The 
characters  are  naturally  microscopic,  but 
they  are  cleanly  cut  and  readable.  To  con- 
vey some  idea  of  the  profit  involved,  I  have 
earned  as  much  as  £4  in  one  day,  working 
from  5  A.  M.  to  9  P.  M.,  while  in  four  months 
I  cleared  £150  profit. 

Other  industrious  prisoners  were  equally 
lucky.  When  the  prisoners  commenced  to 
take  an  interest  in  their  appearance,  the 
professional  barbers  among  us  saw  a  golden 
opportunity.  The  hairdressing  saloon  be- 
came part  of  every  barrack.  The  barber 
established  himself  just  within  the  entrance, 

309 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  conditions  naturally  compelling  him  to 
carry  his  stock-in-trade  to  and  fro  every 
morning  and  night.  They  did  a  flourishing 
business,  and  each,  by  mutual  agreement, 
secured  an  assured  patronage.  For  an 
inmate  of  one  barrack  to  patronize  the 
barber  of  another  was  considered  an  un- 
pardonable sin.  A  prisoner  was  sup- 
posed to  support  the  hairdresser  of  his  own 
barrack,  and  this  feeling  was  so  strong  that 
the  barber  of  one  barrack  would  not  will- 
ingly attend  to  a  customer  from  another. 
But  hairdressing  was  subsequently  ruled  to 
be  a  necessary  trade  and  a  well  appointed 
central  hairdressing  saloon  was  established 
in  the  grandstand  and  run  by  the  communal 
government. 

As  time  went  on  and  business  developed, 
authors  and  journalists  entered  the  lists. 
The  coming  of  the  theater  gave  the  artists 
and  ticket-writers  a  glorious  chance  to  de- 
vise striking  and  attractive  posters,  which 
were  displayed  upon  all  eligible  advertising 
spaces,  though  they  found  their  markets 
somewhat  limited  until  the  camp  magazine 
was  launched.    But  although  their  zeal  was 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

laudable  prices  were  low.  Water  colors  sold 
as  a  rule  for  3d.  to  Is.  each;  art  connoisseurs 
in  Ruhleben  were  not  disposed  to  pay  fancy 
prices  for  unique  contemporary  master- 
pieces. Portrait-painters  had  a  successful 
run  owing  to  the  absence  of  photography, 
but  were  challenged  keenly  by  cartoonists, 
the  humorous  in  the  internment  camp  never 
failing  to  make  appeal.  Another  branch  of 
activity  which  met  with  deserving  recom- 
pense was  model-making.  Some  of  these 
works  were  distinctly  noteworthy,  those 
dealing  with  sections  of  the  camp  prepared 
to  scale,  arousing  widespread  attention  from 
their  striking  fidelity  to  the  most  minute 
detail. 

As  trading  developed,  anything  which 
could  be  converted  into  something  saleable 
by  effort  and  ingenuity  was  seized  upon. 
The  garbage  barrels  were  ransacked  for 
material.  One  prisoner  collected  the  shal- 
low pots  and  glass  vessels,  originally  con- 
taining potted  meat  or  jam,  which  had  been 
sent  to  the  camp  from  home.  These  he 
cleaned  and  nattily  worked  up  to  be  sold 
as  ash-trays.    He  cleared  them  out  at  three- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

pence  each,  the  Ruhleben  Club  proving  one 
of  his  best  customers.  Tins,  pieces  of  wood, 
and  other  rubbish  were  similarly  reclaimed, 
to  be  worked  up  into  something  of  unusual 
novelty  or  utility. 

Despite  our  mad  zeal  for  trading,  charity 
was  not  ignored  and  none  of  us  were  too 
busy  to  give  effort  and  labor  on  behalf  of 
a  good  cause. 

While  the  commercial  instinct  was  upper- 
most, life  in  Ruhleben  was  brisk  and 
crammed  with  incident;  but  as  the  facilities 
became  curbed,  owing  to  the  intervention  of 
the  authorities  and  to  the  economic  depres- 
sion developing  in  the  country  itself,  trading 
zeal  languished.  The  boom  petered  out, 
and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  Ruhleben  has  re- 
lapsed into  that  state  of  suspended  activity 
and  despondency  characteristic  of  the  early 
days  of  the  camp's  existence. 


31^ 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CHRISTMAS  IN  RUHLEBEN, 

"You  can  well  understand  our  feeling  of  horror  at 
the  prospect  of  going  through  a  third  winter  in  a  prison 
camp!" 

These  words  were  written  by  one  of  the 
Britishers  interned  at  Ruhleben  a  few  days 
before  Christmas,  1916.  The  outlook  was,  in- 
deed, dismal.  Food  was  scarce,  except  for 
the  parcels  from  England;  fuel  was  running 
short;  trading  activity  in  Ruhleben  had 
slumped — in  short,  a  wave  of  utter  despond- 
ency had  overwhelmed  the  camp. 

But  it  was  the  winter  of  1914 — our  first 
at  Ruhleben — that  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  any  one  of  the  4,000  odd  interned  British. 
It  was  an  unholy  nightmare,  the  mere 
memory  of  which  causes  one  who  passed 
through  it  to  shiver  involuntarily,  even 
when  comfortably  ensconced  beside  a  blaz- 
ing hearth  at  home. 

There  was  one  prospect  more  than  any 

312 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

other  that  we  regarded  with  dread — that  of 
spending  the  joyful  season  of  Yuletide  in 
prison  and  in  exile.  The  vaunted  Teutonic 
organization  had  broken  down  under  the 
strain  which  our  internment  had  imposed, 
and  the  officials  were  at  their  wit's  end  to 
know  what  to  do.  We  misinterpreted  this 
manifestation  of  mismanagement.  During 
the  dreary  days  of  November  we  nursed  the 
thought  that  we  should  spend  Christmas 
with  our  loved  ones.  What  else  could  Teu- 
ton apathy  signify?  Our  excitement  grew 
intense;  the  most  sensational  stories  flew 
hither  and  thither  through  the  camp.  The 
tenor  of  each  one  was  identical:  we  were  go- 
ing to  be  sent  home.  Whence  these  rumors 
started,  no  one  seemed  to  know  and  cared 
less. 

Crouching  over  the  basin  of  coffee  and 
piece  of  black  bread,  shivering  with  cold  and 
fanned  by  icy  draughts,  with  tempers  too 
quick  to  permit  the  slightest  civil  word,  a 
member  of  the  party  would  valiantly  strive 
to  liven  matters  by  idly  remarking: 

"Did  you  hear  that  story  down  at  the 
kitchen?    They  say  all  civilian  prisoners  are 

3^4 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

going  to  be  exchanged  on  the  understanding 
that  neither  country  will  use  them  as 
soldiers.'* 

"Shucks!"  would  come  the  growled  com- 
ment from  sceptics,  accompanied  by  guf- 
faws of  derision  from  others.  But  those 
hoping  against  hope  shuffled  off  to  relate  the 
story  in  undertones  to  colleagues  who  were 
content  to  accept  Dame  Rumor  without  the 
slightest  questioning,  the  narrator  embroid- 
ering the  report  to  satisfy  his  imagination. 
And  so  the  idle  remark  was  bandied  from 
party  to  party,  undergoing  distortion,  until 
it  had  completed  its  circuit  of  the  camp,  and 
had  returned  to  us  in  scarcely  recognizable 
form.  One  of  the  prisoners,  his  face  beam- 
ing, would  burst  in,  and  with  firm  and  cheery 
conviction,  call  out: 

"Well,  boys !  It  won't  be  long  now  before 
we're  home.  The  Germans  have  had  enough 
of  us,  and  are  going  to  clear  us  out  before 
Christmas!  Fact!  I  heard  it  on  good 
authority,  and  it's  official !" 

"What's  the  reason?"  innocently  asked  by 
a  sceptic,  who  had  ridiculed  the  rumor  when 
first  uttered. 

3^5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

"Oh!  The  fellow  who  told  me  says  that 
Germany  is  finding  it  too  expensive  to  keep 
us!" 

Howls  of  derisive  mirth  would  greet  this 
solemn  assurance. 

Every  hour  brought  its  variation  of  the 
old,  old  story.  It  was  only  those  among  us 
who  had  previously  experienced  other  Ger- 
man prisons  who  had  the  hardihood  to 
greet  these  yarns  with  noisy  hilarity.  Per- 
sonally, I  believe  it  was  certain  of  the  offi- 
cials among  the  Germans  themselves,  who, 
in  the  first  instance,  gave  rumor  wing. 
From  previous  experience  in  Wesel,  Senne- 
lager,  and  Klingelputz,  I  knew  it  was  quite 
in  keeping  with  their  tactics  to  cultivate 
such  hopes.  Thereby  they  were  likely  to 
keep  us  quiet  and  tractable.  However,  as 
time  wore  on,  the  authorities  became  ap- 
prehensive as  to  the  after-effects  which 
would  be  likely  to  arise.  They  realized 
that  once  the  prisoners  saw  through  the 
delusion  and  realized  that  they  had  been 
mercilessly,  even  cruelly,  hoodwinked,  that 
infinite  trouble  might  ensue. 

One  morning  we  received  a  curt  summons 

316 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

to  parade.  Everyone  hurried  up,  taut  with 
excitement.    The  officer  roared: 

''Prisoners!  You  will  be  permitted  to 
receive  parcels  from  home  if  you  can  get 
them.  But  if  any  further  rumors  are  cir- 
culated through  the  camp  relating  to  your 
pending  release,  which  is  not  going  to  be 
considered  for  a  moment,  no  effort  will 
be  spared  to  trace  their  origin,  and  the  of- 
fender, if  caught,  will  suffer  punishment." 

This  was  shivering  the  idol  of  hope  with 
a  vengeance.  The  facial  studies  which  fol- 
lowed this  pronouncement  baffle  descrip- 
tion. I  have  never  seen  such  lugubrious 
"all-is-up"  expressions.  The  Teuton  is 
nothing  if  not  heartless  when  apparently 
extending  concessions.  It  was  all  very  well 
for  the  officer  to  remark,  with  assumed 
magnanimity,  that  we  might  receive  par- 
cels from  home  to  cheer  us  at  Christmastide, 
but  how  about  those  of  us  who  hailed  from 
Britain?  How  should  we  be  able  to  receive 
such  welcome  gifts  in  time?  Letters  took 
from  ten  to  fifteen  days  to  reach  home,  ow- 
ing to  the  caprice  of  the  authorities,  while 
parcels    occupied    from    three    weeks    to    a 

3^7 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

month  to  come  out!  And  here  was  Christ- 
mas hard  upon  us!  Truly  cynicism  is  su- 
perlative among  German  characteristics. 

The  solemn  warning,  however,  did  not 
exercise  the  slightest  effect.  The  optimists, 
surviving  the  first  shock  of  disaster,  popped 
up  as  lively  as  ever.  They  construed  the 
Teuton  official  action  as  an  astute  display 
of  bluff;  but  those  amongst  us  who  had  suf- 
fered in  other  prisons  and  who  had  every 
reason  to  know  that  the  Germans  meant 
what  they  said,  decided  to  take  the  law  into 
our  own  hands.  Rumor  had  had  far  too 
long  and  untrammeled  a  sway.  We  caught 
one  of  the  story-mongers  red-handed.  We 
did  not  denounce  him  to  the  authorities  to 
ascertain  the  character  of  the  punishment 
to  be  awarded,  we  ducked  him  in  the  pond. 
The  icy  cold  water  quenched  his  imagination 
very  effectively,  and  the  rumors  grew  less. 

Then  the  Germans  artfully  laid  another 
snare  to  lull  us  into  tractability.  A  care- 
fully-prepared story  was  circulated  to  the 
effect  that  on  Christmas  Day  we  were  to 
receive  an  unexpected  treat.  Although  far 
from  home,  and  victims  of  circumstances, 

31S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

we  were  to  be  given  the  time  of  our  lives 
at  the  expense  of  the  German  nation.  It  was 
to  be  a  time  which  we  would  never  forget, 
and  it  would  dispel  every  feeling  of  gloom 
and  dejection.  The  Germans,  so  we  were 
led  to  believe,  were  fully  aware  of  the  joy- 
ousness  and  festivity  with  which  the  Brit- 
isher honored  the  Yuletide  Season,  and  how 
keenly  he  appreciated  roast  beef,  plum  pud- 
ding, mince  pies,  and  numerous  other  dain- 
ties associated  with  the  season.  This  deeply 
rooted  institution  was  to  be  suitably  hon- 
ored. 

This  unexpected  outburst  of  Teuton  mag- 
nanimity and  fellow-feeling  took  us  com- 
pletely by  surprise.  It  seemed  so  foreign  to 
the  German  nature.  And  I  must  admit  that 
in  one  respect  the  authorities  were  correct 
in  their  phophesy.  There  is  not  one  of  us 
who  will  ever  forget  the  dinner  received  on 
Christmas  Day,  1914,  in  Ruhleben  prison 
camp. 

The  announcement  effected  its  object. 
The  story  provided  us  with  another  topic 
of  conversation,  and  smothered  all  further 
discussion  regarding  pending  release.  Those 

3^9 


TERMED    IN    GERMANY 

who  had  fallen  into  the  slough  of  despond- 
ency were  re-lifted  to  a  state  bordering  on 
ecstacy. 

A  week  before  Christmas  I  was  the  re- 
cipient of  an  unexpected  treat — a  parcel  of 
400  British  cigarettes.  None  of  us  had 
tasted  the  flavor  of  a  home-made  cigarette 
since  we  had  been  interned,  and  the  only 
smokes  that  we  could  obtain  at  that  time 
were  those  cheap  articles  which  the  Ger- 
mans alone  know  how  to  make — and  to 
smoke !  There  were  140  men  in  my  barrack 
and  the  cigarettes  were  distributed  among 
them.  No  one  can  picture  the  joy  which 
those  fags  gave.  The  men  smoked  them 
slowly,  enjoying  the  taste  and  aroma  of  the 
tobacco  to  the  full.  But  what  were  400 
cigarettes  among  so  many?  They  did  not 
last  long,  and  we  soon  came  down  to  the 
sole  remaining  "coffin  nail."  Who  out  of  the 
twelve  in  our  party  should  have  the  honor 
of  its  company?  This  momentous  issue  was 
settled  in  true  Ruhleben  manner:  we  went 
outside  the  barrack,  placed  the  cigarette 
upon  a  post,  and  each  advanced  in  turn  for 
a  draw.     By  careful  management,  we  suc- 

3^0 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ceeded  in  securing  two  puffs  each;  and  the 
fragment  we  finally  discarded  afforded  ex- 
treme delight  to  a  sailor,  who  recovered  it 
and  promptly  rammed  it  into  his  pipe. 

Christmas  Eve  arrived.  With  what  de- 
light we  looked  forward  to  the  morrow. 
During  the  preceding  days  nothing  had  been 
discussed  but  the  coming  feast  of  Lucullus, 
and  our  wan  faces  commenced  to  glow  in 
pleasurable  anticipation.  The  few  among  us 
whom  no  specious  German  promise  could 
buoy  up,  having  had  experience  in  this  con- 
nection, hesitated  to  express  our  innermost 
thoughts.  We  studiously  reserved  our  opin- 
ions, being  perfectly  content  to  wait  and 
see. 

Although  the  Germans  might  furnish  us 
with  another  bitter  disappointment,  a  kindly 
sympathetic  heart  outside  was  resolved  that 
we  should  not  be  entirely  deprived  of  all  the 
joys   associated   with   Christmastide.     Mrs. 

K ,  the  wife  of  our  popular  colleague, 

W.T.K. ,  sent  a  parcel  to  each  member 

of  our  party.  It  was  hailed  with  unmiti- 
gated pleasure.  Her  womanly  action  was 
appreciated  to  the  full,  and  although  we  felt 

321 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

that  our  joy  was  at  the  expense  of  our  col- 
league, still  we  thanked  him  and  his  con- 
sort wholeheartedly  and  toasted  their 
health. 

As  evening,  gloom,  and  darkness  settled 
down  we  became  more  fretful  and  taciturn. 
Strive  how  we  might  we  could  not  banish 
from  our  minds  thoughts  of  home  and  the 
merry  times  we  were  wont  to  have  at  this 
season  of  the  year. 

Christmas  Eve  was  not  without  excite- 
ment. The  "P.-G.'s"  decided  to  have  a  good 
old  time  so  far  as  the  limitations  of  their 
quarters  would  allow  them,  and  they  en- 
deavored to  ignore  the  loyalist  element  com- 
pletely. Their  German  friends  and  relatives 
had  sent  them  bulky  parcels,  which,  when 
opened,  were  found  to  be  packed  with  little 
Teuton  Christmas  delights  and  emblems — 
colored  wax  candles,  diminutive  Christmas 
trees,  and  similar  articles.  Armed  with 
these  sinews  for  keeping  up  the  good  old 
times  they  proceeded  to  celebrate  the  Yule- 
tide.  The  candles  were  stuck  in  the  mouths 
of  empty  bottles,  as  candlesticks,  and  dis- 
played on  the  tables,  while  each  prisoner 

322 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

routed  among  his  belongings  to  fish  out 
mementos  from  home.  When  these  hurried 
decorations  had  been  completed  to  satisfac- 
tion, and  the  candles  had  been  lighted,  they 
sang  the  German  patriotic  songs. 

Soon  we  were  all  hustled  to  bed.  But 
not  to  sleep,  although  I  tried  desperately. 
So  I  got  up  to  pace  the  narrow  alley-way, 
extending  the  full  length  of  the  black  hole, 
flanked  on  either  side  by  the  bunks  contain- 
ing my  recumbent  colleagues. 

The  cold  was  intense;  it  penetrated  to  and 
chilled  my  marrow.  Our  quarters  had  not 
received  any  heating  apparatus  at  that  time, 
and  many  of  the  prisoners  had  not  even  been 
given  a  blanket.  They  lay  huddled  in  shape 
less  masses,  snuggling  together  upon  the 
dirty  loose  straw,  to  profit  from  collective 
warmth.  One  and  all,  almost  without  ex- 
ception, were  shivering  in  their  sleep. 

The  straw,  saturated  with  filth  and 
thickly  invested  with  vermin,  emitted  a  hor- 
rible stench  as  it  became  heated  up  by  the 
emaciated  bodies  of  the  sleepers,  with  which 
was  mingled  the  nauseating  odor  of  stale 
clothing    and    human    perspiration.      The 

3^3 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

sleepers  tossed  upon  their  hard  couches  like 
cattle,  vainly  endeavoring  to  burrow  into 
the  straw. 

The  sounds  coming  involuntarily  from 
the  prone  forms  were  heartrending.  The 
majority  of  the  men,  their  nerves  over- 
wrought, were  jabbering  incoherently  in 
their  slumber.  Many  were  crying  and  sob- 
bing pitifully.  It  was  a  restless  sea  of  out- 
raged humanity  calling  out  to  Heaven  in 
its  sleep. 

After  a  while,  one  or  two  other  prisoners, 
who  were  unable  to  secure  oblivion  through 
sleep,  got  up  and  joined  me  in  my  pacings. 
But  walking  in  the  darkness  was  no 
panacea,  so  we  decided  to  gain  a  little 
respite  from  our  thoughts  by  emulating  the 
actions  of  our  childhood  on  such  a  night  as 
this.  We  hung  our  stockings  and  socks  from 
the  rafters,  as  if  in  mockery  of  the  dawning 
day  of  peace  and  good  will.  The  occupation 
satisfied  our  minds.  At  last,  thoroughly 
worn  out,  we  threw  ourselves  down  to  sink 
into  a  deep  and  welcome  sleep. 

When  the  prisoners  awoke  and  caught 
sight  of  the  empty  socks  and  stockings  hang- 

3^4 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ing  mournfully  from  the  rafters  the  loft 
rang  with  shouts  of  mocking  laughter  and 
banter.  But  so  far  as  our  party  was  con- 
cerned the  mirth  was  misplaced.  True,  our 
stockings  were  empty,  but  under  our  pillows 
we  found  welcome  prize  packets,  containing 
handkerchiefs,  cigarettes,  socks,  and  other 
little  trifles  of  which  we  were  in  sore  need. 

A  good  fairy,  once  again  Mrs.  K ,  had 

imparted  Christmas  spirit  to  our  prison.  Her 
husband  had  received  them  in  bulk,  and  had 
surreptitiously  slipped  them  beneath  our 
pillows.  The  discovery  of  these  so  deeply 
moved  us  that  we  were  incapable  of  a  word 
of  gratitude,  but  our  mute  appreciation 
proved  far  more  telling  than  the  most  pro- 
fuse expressions  of  pleasure. 

We  were  astir  early,  and  the  majority, 
each  with  his  basin  tucked  under  one  arm, 
and  his  other  hand  clutching  his  hunk  of 
bread,  moved  off  to  the  Church  under  the 
grandstand  to  participate  in  the  early  morn- 
ing service  with  which  we  had  decided  to 
welcome  the  coming  of  Christmas  Day.  One 
of  our  number  had  agreed  to  officiate. 

That  Christmas  morning  service  was  at- 

3^5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tended  by  one  of  the  most  dejected  and 
motley  crowds  of  humanity  which  has  ever 
graced  the  EstabHshed  Church.  Everyone 
shivered  with  the  cold.  Snow  and  slush  car- 
peted the  ground  outside,  while  the  air  had 
a  biting  sting.  Some  of  the  Faithful  came 
in  clogs;  others  with  their  feet  protruding 
pitifully  from  tattered  footwear.  Those 
possessing  overcoats  drew  them  tightly 
round  them,  but  many  appeared  only  in 
their  thin  vests,  ungraced  by  either  collar 
or  tie.  I  presented  myself  in  my  complete 
wardrobe — coarse  corduroy  trousers,  tied 
under  the  knee  with  string,  hitched  up  by  a 
tattered  belt,  and  a  gray  shirt.  We  took 
the  precaution  to  carry  our  basin  and  bread 
with  us,  because  the  service  was  scarcely 
likely  to  be  over  before  we  were  due  at  the 
kitchen  before  breakfast.  It  was  the  chilli- 
est Christmas  morning  I  can  recollect,  not 
only  as  regards  the  weather,  but  from  the 
human  temperament  point  of  view  as  well. 
Things  had  grown  so  desperate  that  the 
most  amiable  could  hardly  speak  a  civil  word 
to  any  one. 
To  me  the  service  seemed  strangely  out 

326 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

of  place.  There  was  a  conspicuous  absence 
of  that  buoyant  atmosphere  associated  with 
Christmas  morning.  Greetings  were  cer- 
tainly exchanged,  but  in  hollow  mockery, 
with  gibe  and  jeer.  The  service  was  un- 
eventful, except  in  connection  with  one 
hymn,  the  great  Ruhleben  favorite.  This  is 
Hymn  376  from  the  Ancient  and  Modern 
Hymnal,  the  last  line  of  which  runs : 

"Give  peace,  O  Lord,  give  peace  again." 
The  words  were  hurled  forth  clearly  and 
resonantly  with  fearful  vehemence,  yet  they 
could  scarcely  be  heard.  While  the  hymn 
was  being  sung,  munition  train  after  muni- 
tion train  thundered  along  the  main  line 
barely  a  hundred  yards  away,  bearing  its 
fearful  freight  of  missiles  for  dealing  death 
and  destruction,  while  the  clatter  of  steel 
against  steel  was  punctuated  by  the  louder 
booming  of  heavy  guns  undergoing  their 
proving  trials  upon  the  adjacent  testing 
ground  at  Spandau.  The  iterations  of  the 
words,  no  matter  how  religiously  and  sin- 
cerely, to  such  an  accompaniment,  appeared 
to  be  mocking  the  Almighty. 

Presently  there  came  a  lull  in  the  rushing 

3^7 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

of  trains  and  the  booming  of  cannon,  but 
the  uncanny  silence  was  broken  by  a  more 
ominous  sound  so  far  as  the  prisoners  were 
concerned.  It  was  the  tramp!  tramp! 
tramp!  of  feet,  at  first  muffled  and  indistinct 
but  growing  louder  each  second.  Our  fellow- 
prisoners  who  had  not  attended  the  church 
service,  were  on  their  way  to  the  kitchen 
to  get  their  breakfast.  Those  shuffling  feet 
brought  us  back  to  things  material  with 
a  disconcerting  jolt.  It  behooved  us  to 
make  haste  lest  we  miss  our  small  share 
of  acorn  coffee.  Half  the  congrega- 
tion wildly  snatched  basins  and  bread 
to  stampede  after  the  marching  throng. 
The  rest  proceeded  somewhat  more  leisurely. 
As  I  vanished  through  the  portal  I  caught  a 
fleeting  glimpse  of  our  colleague  holding 
forth  with  his  basin  on  one  side  and  his  por- 
tion of  bread  on  the  other.  He  left  after  his 
congregation  had  filed  out  to  take  up  his 
position  in  the  long  queue. 

As  we  received  our  coffee  we  heard  more 
about  the  coming  midday  feast.  There  was 
to  be  a  chop,  sauerkraut,  vegetables,  sweets, 
and  other  delights.    But  above  all,  we  were 

3^S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

to  regale  ourselves  with  a  bottle  of  beer 
apiece,  and  to  cheer  the  afternoon  with  a 
cigar!  These  two  last-named  luxuries  we 
were  to  receive  as  a  special  favor,  with  the 
Kaiser's  compliments! 

We  contained  ourselves  throughout  the 
morning  as  best  we  could  until  the  hour  of 
11.30  came  round.  How  the  hours  dragged. 
We  mustered  punctually  to  the  minute,  but 
it  was  not  until  12.45,  after  a  wait  of  an  hour 
and  a  quarter  in  the  line,  that  we  were 
marched  off  to  the  kitchen,  which  we  ap- 
proached babbling  and  talking  as  excitedly 
as  a  gathering  of  children  at  a  Sunday 
school  treat. 

During  this  walk  some  commenced  to  bet 
freely  that  we  were  destined  to  receive  an- 
other powerful  illustration  of  how  the 
Germans  do  things.  Those  who  were  dis- 
posed to  place  faith  in  the  Teuton  and  his 
promises  condemned  us  as  a  band  of 
"Croakers!"  "Wet  blankets!"  "Jeremiads!" 
and  "Jonahs !" 

We  were  not  destined  to  be  kept  on  the 
rack  of  suspension  much  longer.    Those  who 

3^9 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  first  in  the  line  received  a  meal  fully 
in  accordance  with  the  much-lauded  story, 
but  when  Barrack  3  reached  the  kitchen 
something  seemed  to  have  gone  amiss. 
Either  the  first  arrivals  had  been  treated 
too  liberally,  or  else  the  mathematical  Teu- 
ton had  dropped  a  few  figures  from  his  cal- 
culations. At  all  events,  supplies  were  pe- 
tering out  at  an  ajarmingly  rapid  rate.  I 
only  received  a  bone  without  any  meat — 
an  island  in  a  sea  of  dubious  gravy,  without 
even  a  fragment  of  potato. 

Those  who  followed  fared  worse.  There 
w^as  nothing  in  the  soup  line  left  for  them. 
The  Germans  hastily  remedied  the  unex- 
pected deficiency  by  furnishing  each  man 
with  a  rasher  of  raw,  repulsive  fat  bacon. 
But  this  hasty  expedient  did  not  sufifice.  By 
the  time  Barrack  6  arrived,  even  the  bacon 
had  given  out ;  there  was  not  a  shred  of  rind 
for  them.  They  received  nothing  beyond  a 
portion  of  greasy,  thin  soup.  And  this  was 
the  wonderful  Christmas  dinner  about  which 
so  much  had  been  said!  The  disappoint- 
ment of  the  prisoners  from  Barrack  6  was 
so  intense,  and  the  mutterings  grew  so  loud, 

330 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

that  even  the  Germans  grew  alarmed. 
Nothing  could  be  done,  but  the  officials, 
following  the  invariable  Teuton  prac- 
tice w^hen  trouble  appeared  imminent, 
placated  the  prisoners  with  honeyed 
words  and  specious  promises  of  ''some- 
thing very  nice  for  tea!"  As  these 
unfortunate  prisoners  had  been  waiting  pa- 
tiently for  over  two  hours  to  be  rewarded 
with  nought  beyond  the  ordinary  daily  fare, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  they  audibly  ex- 
pressed their  opinion  of  German  system  and 
organization.  They  retraced  their  footsteps 
to  the  barracks  with  their  faith  in  German 
promises  sadly  shattered,  and  cherishing 
decided  doubts  as  to  the  evening  meal. 

Upon  receiving  our  dinner  we  were  told 
to  hurry  to  the  grandstand  to  receive  the 
Kaiser's  presents — the  bottle  of  beer  and 
the  cigar.  I  think  the  authorities  must  have 
deliberately  plotted  this  additional  luxurv' 
as  a  rew^ard  to  the  fleetest  of  foot.  I  sprinted 
for  all  I  knew  how,  and  succeeded  in  getting 
both  the  bottle  of  beer  and  the  cigar.  The 
majority  were  forced  to  be  content  with  one 
or   the   other,   and   counted    themselves    as 

33^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

mighty  lucky  to  get  even  one-half  of  the 
promised  gift. 

Reaching  our  barracks,  we  made  the  most 
of  our  meal,  supplementing  official  short- 
comings with  what  our  small  parcels  from 
home,  a  few  of  which  had  come  to  hand, 
would  yield.  The  latter  were  shared  in  the 
usual  manner,  but  there  was  insufficient  to 
go  round.  Our  discontent  was  not  assuaged 
by  the  discovery  of  one  circumstance.  The 
pro-Germans  appeared  to  have  fared  best  as 
regards  the  dinner,  beer,  and  cigars. 

We  whiled  away  the  afternoon  with  the 
cigars  so  magnanimously  presented  to  us 
by  the  All  Highest.  The  Kaiser  must  have 
learned  something  about  the  condition  of 
our  living  quarters,  and,  being  generally 
credited  with  an  inventive  turn  of  mind, 
evolved  a  type  of  disinfecting  smoke  to  be 
submitted  to  exacting  test  at  our  expense. 
The  weed  was  universally  declared  to  be 
''some  cigar,''  but  the  less  grateful  and  more 
critical  unceremoniously  dubbed  them 
"stinkers."  These  doubtful  Havanas  were 
discarded  with  freedom,  for  only  the  physi- 
cally fit  could  stand  up  under  them. 

33^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

When  the  hour  for  the  evening  meal 
came  round  Barrack  6  scampered  off  for  the 
delectable  dainty  which  it  was  due  to  re- 
ceive. For  the  most  part  this  luxury  as- 
sumed the  form  of  a  herring,  but  the  un- 
grateful recipients  made  one  fatal  mistake. 
They  would  persist  in  testing  a  Teuton  gift 
herring  with  the  olfactory  nerve!  The  re- 
sult was  disastrous. 

It  was  a  miserable  evening,  absolutely  de- 
ficient in  cheeriness  and  comfort.  Mark 
Tapley  would  have  been  frozen  into  silence 
had  he  made  any  effort  to  improve  the 
dragging  hour  with  witticism  or  banter. 
Our  pro-German  enemies  alone  proved  ca- 
pable of  passing  the  time,  and  incidentally 
they  provided  us  with  the  solitary  form  of 
amusement  which  came  our  way.  They 
brought  an  array  of  tables  from  the  grand- 
stand, and  with  the  utmost  sang  froid  im- 
aginable set  them  out  in  a  continuous  coun- 
ter along  the  narrow  solitary  gangway  bi- 
secting the  loft.  By  so  doing  they  drove 
every  other  prisoner^  to  his  bunk,  but  this 
was  immaterial  to  them.  Out  came  the  col- 
ored candles  and  other  decorations.    Within 

333 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

a  few  moments  the  whole  loft  was  ablaze 
with  light.  Seating  themselves  on  either 
side  of  this  improvised  table,  each  man 
stood  his  Christmas  tree  before  him,  and 
with  the  other  delights  contained  in  his 
parcel  set  out  to  have  a  high  old  time. 

The  feelings  of  us  crouching  and  shivering 
in  our  bunks  must  be  left  to  the  imagination. 
At  first  we  struggled  hard  to  ignore  them, 
but  their  raucous  laughter,  coarse  jokes, 
and  unabashed  expressions  of  sympathy 
with  the  German  cause,  began  to  fan  the 
flames,  and  when  they  burst  out  into  exu- 
berant song,  and  let  fly  the  words  of 
*^Deutschland  uber  Alles''  with  all  the  vigor 
they  could  command,  the  more  fidgetty 
among  us  got  up  and  commenced  to  express 
displeasure  in  unmistakable  manner.  As 
the  alley  way  was  blocked  by  the  tables, 
movement  was  difficult,  but  we  settled  this 
by  roughly  pushing  away  any  table  which 
barred  our  path. 

The  scowlings  and  mutterings  grew 
fiercer.  One  prisoner,  a  rabid  patriot,  at 
last  declared  it  was  more  than  he  could 
stand.    He  was  somewhat  too  rough  in  pass- 

334 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

ing  a  table  to  please  the  pro-Germans  sitting 
around  it.  They  expostulated  savagely,  and 
he  retorted  just  as  energetically.  Voices 
commenced  to  rise  in  anger  and  protest. 
Thereupon  the  Britisher,  discarding  his  coat 
and  rolling  up  his  shirt  sleeves,  declared 
his  intention  to  mop  up  the  floor  with  the 
"whole  blarmed  lot  of  them.'^ 

The  appearance  of  armed  force  restored 
order.  The  British  loyalists  were  peremp- 
torily ordered  to  bed — and  so  were  the  "P.- 
G.'s"  They  protested,  declaring  they  were 
doing  no  harm,  but  the  guards  were  taking 
no  risks.  "Better  prevent  a  fight  than  be 
called  upon  to  quell  one,''  was  their  rule,  so 
our  enemies  were  forced  to  surrender. 
Candles  were  speedily  extinguished,  and  to- 
gether with  the  other  clutter  were  ordered 
to  be  put  out  of  sight.  Unfortunately,  we 
had  cause  to  regret  having  taken  such 
drastic  measures,  for  we  were  condemned 
to  suffer  a  repetition  of  the  nightly  decora- 
tions and  celebrations  for  nearly  a  week, 
during  which  the  Christmas  festivities  were 
prolonged,  the  orgies  only  coming  to  an  end 
when  the  candles  had  been  consumed. 

3S5 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

Boxing  Day  threatened  to  be  every  whit 
as  depressing,  but  one  or  two  of  us,  having 
shaken  off  the  dejection  into  which  we  had 
been  plunged  by  a  cheerless  Christmas,  en- 
deavored to  infuse  a  little  of  the  fun  and 
excitement  of  a  seasonable  British  winter 
Bank  Holiday  into  our  existence.  We  had 
a  merry  snowball  fight,  to  which  I  have  re- 
ferred elsewhere,  which,  however,  was  sum- 
marily interrupted  by  the  guard.  Still,  for 
a  very  brief  period  we  enjoyed  ourselves 
wholeheartedly  and  forgot  our  miserable 
surroundings. 

The  solitude,  darkness,  stench,  vermin, 
and  cold  of  the  barracks  brought  us  back  to 
our  dismal,  aimless  life  at  Ruhleben  with 
added  emphasis,  and  we  passed  the  enforced 
idleness  of  Boxing  Night,  heads  in  hands, 
ruminating  and  wondering  how  it  all  would 
end!  I  have  spent  many  a  Christmas  under 
strange  conditions,  but  the  memory  of  one 
is  indelibly  seared  into  my  brain.  The  recol- 
lections of  the  first  Christmas  spent  in  the 
internment  camp  of  Ruhleben  in  1914  will 
never  be  forgotten:  they  will  remain  with 
me  until  the  end. 

33^ 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

WHEN  THE  PINCH  WAS  FELT 

I  have  already  described  the  meager  fare 
with  which  we  were  supposed  to  keep  body 
and  soul  together  at  Ruhleben.  Sugarless 
and  milkless  coffee  made  from  acorns,  a 
small  basin  of  thin,  unappetizing  soup,  and 
one-fifth  of  a  loaf  of  black  bread  per  day 
constitute  short  commons  for  a  healthy  man. 
It  was  more  the  indomitable  spirit  of  the 
Britisher  than  the  food  that  kept  us  going. 
Physically  we  suffered  severely,  and  our 
weights  sank  to  alarmingly  low  levels. 

We  grumbled  a  great  deal  during  the 
early  days,  when  food  was  comparatively 
plentiful  in  Germany,  but  later,  complaints 
gave  way  to  tense  apprehension.  Shorter 
commons  did  not  affect  those  flush  of  funds 
so  much  as  poorer  members  of  the  commu- 
nity. The  canteen  was  an  excellent  stand- 
by, for  there  we  could  buy  various  articles 

337 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

in  the  commissary  line,  so  long  as  we  were 
prepared  to  pay  for  them.  Thus,  very  good 
brodchens  could  be  purchased  at  two  a 
penny,  and,  needless  to  say,  were  in  great 

demand. 

The  outlook  first  began  to  assume  a  sinis- 
ter aspect  when  the  bread  ration  was  dimin- 
ished. The  shrinkage  was  so  marked  that  we 
felt  before  long  we  should  be  compelled  to 
go  without.  As  time  passed,  even  the  can- 
teen and  pocket-money  ceased  to  be  a  sub- 
stitute because  the  hrodchens  disappeared. 
They  could  not  be  obtained  for  love  or 
money.  Subsequently  a  substitute  for  these 
appreciated  hrodchens  became  available,  a 
composite  or  "necessity''  bread,  that  was 
tolerably  palatable,  although  it  was  more 
expensive. 

The  shortage  of  bread  naturally  hit  us 
severely.  There  ensued  a  general  tightening 
of  the  waistbelt,  while  faces,  already 
pinched,  became  more  pinched.  Everyone 
began  to  suffer  terribly,  but  we  bore  the 
situation  with  the  stoicism  of  Indians.  Pri- 
vation became  more  widespread  and  intense 

338 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

as  the  weeks  passed  without  bringing  any 
change  in  the  state  of  affairs. 

But  alas!  There  was  only  one  court  to 
which  we  could  make  appeal.  This  was  the 
American  Embassy.  When  first  suggested, 
this  proposal  failed  to  meet  with  general 
acclamation;  we  were  rather  disposed  to 
trust  to  luck  and  to  work  out  our  own  sal- 
vation. Finally  hunger  got  the  upper  hand 
and  we  petitioned  the  United  States'  Ambas- 
sador to  intercede  on  our  behalf.  The  first 
letters  failed  to  draw  a  reply,  doubtless 
owing  to  the  fact  that  they  were  intercepted 
by  the  authorities  or  because  they  infringed 
the  regulation  that  all  letters  addressed  to 
persons  outside  had  to  be  posted  open,  so 
that  the  camp  authorities  might  acquaint 
themselves  with  the  contents.  This  law 
was  so  rigid  as  to  apply  to  communications 
sent  to  the  Embassy  which  had  assumed 
the  responsibility  so  far  as  it  lay  within  its 
powers,  for  our  well-being.  We  hoped  that 
such  letters  would  be  safe  from  official  cen- 
sorship, and  that  the  authorities  would  leave 
action  to  the  discretion  of  the  Embassy, 
which  naturally  would  not  exceed  its  limit. 

339 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

But  the  Germans  are  ignorant  of  the  mean- 
ing of  the  word  ''honor,"  preferring  to  judge 
other  people  by  their  own  standard  and  in- 
terpretation of  terms.  While  we  have  no 
absolute  evidence  that  the  German  authori- 
ties deliberately  destroyed,  or  mislaid  any 
communications  addressed  to  Mr.  Gerard 
from  prisoners  in  Ruhleben  Camp,  there  is 
sufficient  circumstantial  evidence  available 
to  prove  that  our  misgivings  upon  this 
question  were  not  ill-founded. 

When,  finally,  a  representative  visited  the 
camp  we  drew  attention  to  our  direful  plight 
with  a  daring  appeal.  We  wrote  in  the  dust 
upon  the  Ambassador's  motor-car  'Tor 
God's  sake  give  us  bread!"  and  threw  into 
his  vehicle  letters  emphasizing  the  condi- 
tions. This  appeal  did  not  go  unanswered. 
Mr.  Gerard,  with  the  promptitude  which 
signaled  all  his  efforts  on  behalf  of  the 
British  civilians,  when  conditions  were  not 
exaggerated  or  imaginary,  petitioned  for  an 
increased  supply  and  three  days  after  his 
visit  the  ration  reverted  to  the  normal,  but, 
as  was  always  the  case,  after  the  sensation 
had  lost  its  nine  days'  interest,  it  was  gradu- 

340 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ally  but  persistently,  again  reduced  until  it 
regained  the  level  which  had  compelled  us 
to  petition  the  assistance  of  our  solitary 
guardian  angel. 

Indeed,  I  really  think  we  suffered  from 
having  so  boldly  sought  the  aid  of  the  Amer- 
ican Ambassador,  for  the  last  stage  of  the 
bread  question  was  far  worse  than  the  first. 
We  were  served  with  bread  which  was  ab- 
solutely uneatable:  even  men  torn  with 
hunger  hesitated  to  tackle  it.  The  interior 
was  as  saturated  with  water  as  a  sponge, 
was  quite  uncooked,  and  was  nauseating 
both  to  the  palate  and  the  eye.  We  could 
wring  the  water  out  of  it.  It  had  to  be  eaten 
right  away:  to  keep  it  for  even  a  few  hours 
was  to  see  it  grow  moldy,  musty,  and  even 
decompose.  Some  of  us  endeavored  to  keep 
it  for  a  short  time,  in  the  hope  that  it  would 
become  solid  as  the  water  evaporated,  and 
become  more  palatable  and  satisfying,  but 
this  was  a  mistaken  policy.  Others  who 
ate  it  at  once  suffered  severely  from  indi- 
gestion. 

The  discontent  grew  more  serious.  We 
pestered   the   authorities   with   requests   to 

341 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

improve  the  bread,  but  for  a  long  time  to 
no  avail.  At  last  they  gave  us  permission 
to  change  a  ''new^"  loaf  for  a  "stale"  one, 
but  v^e  speedily  refused  this  alternative,  for 
the  so-called  stale  bread  w^as  not  only  stale 
and  hard,  but  in  addition,  revoltingly  green 
right  through  with  mold. 

Matters  at  last  reached  such  a  state  as 
to  provoke  general  discussion  as  to  w^hether 
v^^e  ought  not  to  make  an  appeal  to  friends 
and  relatives  at  home  for  assistance.  This 
had  been  advocated  once  or  twice  previ- 
ously, but  general  opinion  had  been  against 
it.  By  March,  1915,  the  situation  had  be- 
come so  acute  as  to  force  us  to  resort  to 
action  of  this  character,  though  it  was  much 
against  our  will,  for  we  felt  that  those  at 
home  must  certainly  have  their  hands  full, 
and  that  it  was  scarcely  fair  for  us  to  saddle 
them  with  the  expense  of  sustaining  their 
imprisoned  compatriots  in  a  German  camp. 

But  necessity  knows  no  law,  and  so  out 
went  postcards  bearing  a  frantic  appeal  for 
bread  to  be  sent  us  from  Britain.  It  was 
this  cry  that  must  have  aroused  the  home- 
land   to    the    true    conditions    in    Germany, 

34^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

especially  in  the  prison  camps.  Although 
we  dispatched  the  urgent  "S  O  S"  far  and 
wide,  we  realized  that  weeks  must  elapse 
before  we  received  tangible  response.  Those 
intervening  weeks  were  dark,  indeed.  We 
were  reduced  to  a  condition  bordering  on 
starvation;  how  the  less  fit  among  us  kept 
going,  we  never  knew.  It  seems  a  night- 
mare now.  Everyone  went  hungry,  and  so 
hungry  that  they  were  ready  to  do  anything 
to  get  any  sort  of  food. 

Our  despairing  cry  met  with  a  wonderful 
response.  I  shall  never  forget  the  scene  in 
camp  upon  the  arrival  of  the  first  shipment 
of  wholesome  nourishing  bread  from  old 
England.  We  rubbed  our  eyes  at  the  sight, 
fearing  that  it  was  only  a  dream,  afraid  to 
bite  into  the  loaves,  which  by  the  way,  were 
as  hard  as  bricks  after  their  long  journey. 
When  we  did  taste  it,  how  we  smacked  our 
lips  over  the  flavor  and  lingered  over  the 
fragments.  Not  a  piece  was  wasted;  we 
would  have  fought  with  the  birds  for  the 
capture  of  a  few  crumbs. 

In  order  to  appreciate  the  measure  of  our 
delight  at  tasting  British  bread  once  more, 

343 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

it  is  necessary  to  gain  some  idea  of  the  staff 
of  life  which  was  being  served  out  to  us  by 
our  captors.  The  proportion  of  wheat  con- 
stituent must  have  been  reduced  to  absolute 
vanishing  point.  The  exterior  was  crusty 
and  as  hard  as  a  dog's  biscuit;  indeed,  I  do 
not  think  a  lover  of  canines  would  ever  have 
given  his  four-footed  companion  such  food. 
But  though  the  exterior  was  hard  and  had 
to  be  gnawed,  the  interior  was  a  soddened 
mass,  reeking  with  moisture  and  only  par- 
tially cooked. 

It  was  not  so  much  the  repulsive  appear- 
ance and  feel  of  the  interior  of  the  loaf, 
which  aroused  such  nausea,  as  the  ingredi- 
ents employed.  To  break  open  a  loaf  was 
akin  to  taking  a  dip  in  a  lucky-tub:  some- 
thing unexpected  was  certain  to  be  found. 
Sometimes  it  was  a  wisp  of  straw  three  or 
four  inches  long — half-inch  lengths  were  so 
common  as  not  to  arouse  a  moment's  second 
thought — at  others  a  hunk  of  potato  peel  or 
a  fragment  of  tree  bark.  They  were  loaves 
of  mystery  in  the  fullest  meaning  of  the 
word,  and  we  hesitated  to  inquire  too  deeply 
into  the  character  of  the  ingredients,  lest 

344 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

we  receive  a  surprise  that  would  compel 
us  to  renounce  the  food  in  disgust. 

I  collected  the  pieces  of  foreign  matter 
discovered  in  the  bread,  prosecuting  this 
hobby  as  diligently  as  any  scientist  pursues 
his  quest.  I  kept  them  all,  and  my  personal 
endeavors  were  supported  by  several  com- 
rades, who  contributed  their  discoveries.  In 
this  manner  I  secured  quite  an  imposing 
survey  of  the  odds  and  ends,  possessing  ab- 
solutely no  nutriment  value  whatever,  which 
were  associated  with  the  German-provided 
staff  of  life. 

Matters  descended  to  such  a  pass  that  we 
decided  to  make  representations  to  some 
powerful  quarter  in  the  desperate  effort  to 
secure  an  improvement  in  regard  to  the 
bread  question.  With  every  succeeding  day 
the  men  were  growing  visibly  weaker. 
Those  who  indulged  in  any  exercise,  such 
as  a  few  minutes  at  football,  had  to  abandon 
their  recreation,  merely  because  they  were 
not  strong  enough  to  pursue  it !  We  had  to 
husband  our  strength  and  vitality  in  grim 
earnest.  More  than  one  man  resolutely 
clung  to  his  bunk  for  fear  that  undue  move- 

345 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ment  or  exertion  would  deprive  his  en- 
feebled body  of  the  meager  reserve  of 
strength  and  vitality  w^hich  it  retained,  or 
accentuate  the  pangs  of  hunger. 

One  may  v^^onder  w^hy  we  evinced  such  an 
intimate  interest  in  the  German  internal 
food  question,  but  it  struck  at  the  very  root 
of  our  existence.  If  the  Germans  had  in- 
sufficient foodstuffs  to  keep  themselves  how 
were  we  likely  to  fare?  We  should  cer- 
tainly be  placed  on  the  shortest  possible 
commons,  and  if  the  worst  came,  we  were 
likely  to  be  left  to  shift  for  ourselves.  We 
knew  enough  of  the  Germans  to  realize  that 
they  would  not  hesitate  to  deprive  us  of 
food  entirely  if  matters  reached  a  crisis. 
This  was  the  haunting  fear.  We  could  see 
the  day  when  they  would  turn  round  and 
leave  us  to  our  own  devices.  Every  succes- 
sive week  witnessed  a  diminution  in  our  ra- 
tions. What  could  be  cut  down  was  cut 
down  remorselessly.  The  journey  to  the 
kitchen  began  to  assume  a  farcical  aspect. 
Those  who  were  receiving  supplies  regu- 
larly from  home  refused  to  make  this  trip 
for    food.      It    was    regarded   as    so    much 

34^ 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

wasted  time  and  useless  expenditure  of 
effort,  because  the  food  we  were  receiving 
was  steadily  declining  in  quality  and  verg- 
ing perilously  near  the  line  of  being  abso- 
lutely inedible.  Great  effort  was  required 
to  eat  it,  and  an  indifferently  nourished  body 
revolted  savagely  at  the  indignities  to  which 
it  was  being  subjected. 

We  came  to  rely  more  and  more  on  the 
parcels  from  home,  and  we  felt  extremely 
grateful  to  relatives,  friends  and  stran- 
gers who  kept  us  steadily  going.  But  for 
this  timely  help  we  should  have  starved. 
When  we  opened  the  parcels  the  soldiers 
would  stand  around  longingly  and,  their  ad- 
miration getting  the  better  of  their  discre- 
tion, they  would  mutter,  ''Mein  Gott!  What 
food  in  war-time!'* 

We  ourselves  could  not  help  pitying  the 
guards,  whom,  we  discovered,  were  placed 
on  the  most  meager  rations.  When  we  heard 
their  comments  we  would  offer  them  some 
dainty.  At  first  they  would  merely  give  a 
sickly  smile  and  shake  their  heads  half- 
heartedly. We  could  see  that  they  longed 
to  accept  our  hospitality  but  feared  to  be 

347 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

seen  doing  so.  However,  as  hunger  pressed 
them,  they  accepted  what  we  offered,  and 
eventually  did  not  hesitate  to  beg  for  what 
we  could  spare.  As  a  rule  we  contrived  to 
save  something  out  for  them,  for  which  they 
extended  the  most  heartfelt  thanks.  It  was 
to  our  advantage  to  keep  on  the  soft  side 
of  our  wardens,  and  the  expenditure  of  food 
in  this  connection  proved  a  profitable  in- 
vestment in  more  ways  than  one.  It  amused 
us — although  the  tragedy  of  it  all  was  not 
lost  upon  us — to  follow  the  competition  be- 
tween the  under-officers  and  their  men  to 
be  first  in  the  surreptitious  overhauling  of 
the  refuse  bread  bins,  since  such  action  con- 
stituted a  breach  of  regulations.  What  we 
declined  to  eat  was  for  the  pigs,  not  the 
arrogant  military  of  Germany,  although  the 
latter  were  only  too  pleased  to  get  what 
they  could  at  the  expense  of  the  occupants 
of  the  sties. 

Neutrals  visiting  the  camp,  when  ques- 
tioned, would  sometimes  lift  the  veil  from 
the  state  of  affairs  existing  outside,  although 
they  were  very  guarded  in  their  replies. 
Nevertheless,  their  fragments  of  informa- 

34S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tion  were  sufficient  to  convince  us  that  the 
German  people  as  a  whole  were  passing 
through  hard  times. 

But  the  most  conclusive  information  was 
brought  in  by  a  fellow  prisoner,  and  his  ex- 
perience seemed  to  me  somewhat  humorous. 
He  had  commercial  connections  in  the 
country,  being  a  Britisher  resident  in  Ger- 
many, although  in  this  instance  he  was  as 
loyal  as  the  most  rabid  of  the  loyalists.  He 
had  been  petitioning  for  some  time  to  be 
permitted  to  go  to  Berlin  to  complete  some 
vital  business  matter,  and  his  importunity 
had  finally  been  rewarded  to  the  extent  of 
a  day's  leave  on  "pass."  This  entitled  him 
to  quit  the  camp  at  7.30  A.  M.  and  to  be  ex- 
cused until  8.30  P.  M.  of  the  same  day.  He 
thought  that  leave  of  thirteen  hours  in  one 
day  would  be  adequate  for  him  to  complete 
the  matter  on  his  mind,  and  he  had  left  the 
camp  in  the  early  morning  punctually  at  the 
permitted  hour,  extremely  thankful  to  be 
able  to  leave  Ruhleben  behind  him  if  only  for 
one  brief  day. 

I  was  hurrying  from  my  kiosk  to  my  bar- 
rack for  the  midday  meal  upon  the  day  in 

349 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

question  when  I  ran  full  tilt  into  our  col- 
league. It  was  barely  half  past  one.  I 
looked  at  him  in  surprise. 

''What  are  you  doing  here?  Thought  you 
had  gone  to  Berlin  on  'pass'?"  I  said. 

"So  I  did,"  he  answered,  looking  round 
warily,  "but  I  was  mighty  glad  to  get  back. 
I  have  never  seen  such  sights  in  my  life.  It's 
awful.  No  wonder  our  food  is  so  bad.  The 
people  there  are  fighting  tooth  and  nail  to 
get  bread,  meat,  or  anything  else  to  eat.  And 
the  feeling  against  the  British  cannot  be  im- 
agined. Had  they  discovered  I  was  an 
Englishman  they  would  have  torn  me  limb 
from  limb.  I  am  not  a  nervous  man,  but 
the  state  of  aflfairs  frightened  me.  In  fact, 
I  abandoned  all  idea  of  finishing  up  my  busi- 
ness transaction,  and  came  back  by  the  first 
tram  I  could  catch. 

The  man  certainly  seemed  scared.  His  ex- 
perience had  completely  unnerved  him.  He  * 
was  even  afraid  of  his  own  shadow  at  the 
moment,  but  for  an  entirely  different  rea- 
son. As  I  was  about  to  resume  my  walk 
he  caught  me  by  the  sleeve,  whispering  in 
an  alarmed  tone: 

350 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

"For  Heaven's  sake  don't  say  you  have 
seen  me.  I  am  hiding  myself  until  the  even- 
ing. If  the  authorities  know  I  am  back, 
they  will  realize  that  I  have  seen  more  than 
I  ought  to  have  observed  in  Berlin,  and  that 
I  know  a  good  deal  about  the  state  of  things 
in  the  capital.  They  are  bluffing  us  for  all 
they  are  worth,  and  if  they  see  me  before 
nightfall  they  will  conclude  why  I  came  back 
before  my  'pass'  was  up.  A  prisoner  is  not 
so  deeply  in  love  with  Ruhleben  as  to  want 
to  get  back  to  it  hours  before  he  needs  to!'* 

I  appreciated  his  logic  and  readily  ex- 
tended the  promise.  I  knew  full  well  that 
if  caught  he  would  be  punished  on  suspicion 
of  having  communicated  unpleasant  truths 
among  the  prisoners.  He  succeeded  in  keep- 
ing himself  unobserved  until  late  that  even- 
ing, when  he  reported  himself  in  due  course 
to  the  authorities.  His  experience,  however, 
furnished  the  camp  with  food  for  animated 
conversation,  since  he  brought  face-to-face 
personal  experience  upon  the  matter  which 
was  of  absorbing  import  to  one  and  all. 

We  learned  that  our  shortage  of  bread  was 
due  to  the  difficulties  which  the  German  na- 

35^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

tion  was  experiencing,  thanks  to  the  strin- 
gency of  the  British  blockade.  Berlin  was 
deeply  incensed  against  our  country,  and  at 
that  time  was  strafing  Great  Britain  and  the 
British  with  a  deadly  strafe.  At  one  meet- 
ing, held  in  Berlin  to  discuss  the  desperate 
situation,  and  at  which  many  notable  digni- 
taries of  the  German  Government  made 
speeches,  one  of  these,  referring  to  the  in- 
ternment camp  at  Ruhleben  and  the  priva- 
tions of  the  prisoners,  vehemently  recom- 
mended that  "we  should  all  be  starved  to 
death !"  From  the  way  in  which  the  author- 
ities were  going  to  work  it  certainly  seemed 
as  if  this  delightful  suggestion  were  being 
put  into  execution. 

During  this  trying  period  the  poorer  mem- 
bers must  have  succumbed  to  hunger  but 
for  the  assistance  rendered  by  the  Com- 
munal Funds.  The  profits  from  the  various 
enterprises  enabled  large  purchases  of 
edibles,  including  bread,  to  be  made  and  sold 
at  a  comparatively  reasonable  figure,  as  I 
have  already  explained.  The  price  thus  be- 
ing brought  w^ithin  reach,  they  were  able 
to  keep  themselves  just  going. 

35^ 


RUHLEBEN   BRITISH  CONCENTRATION  CAMP. 

Financial  Statement  to  W'"-  April  1915. 


RECEIPTS: 

a)  For  Camp    Fund    ex    American   Embassy    to 

cover  distribution  of  Margarine,  Sugar,   etc 
and  general  Camp  expenses        .      .      .      • 
For  Camp  Fund  ex  Other  Sources,  viz: 

Donations.  O'Hara  Murray,  Esq  ,  Collec- 
tions in  Barracks.  Proceeds  ot  Concerts, 
Variety  Shows,  Canteens,  Boilers,  Parcel 
Post    Department,   etc 

b)  For  Relief  in  Cash  ex  King  Edvkrard  VII  Fund 

c)  For  Relief    in    Cash    (weekly)    ex    American 

Embassy .... 

EXPENDITURE: 

Relief  afforded : 

General    Camp     Relief,    Distribution   of  Mar- 
garine, Sugar,  etc fa) 

General  Camp  Relief,  through  First  Aid  So- 
ciety       'a) 

Weekly  Relief  in  Cash  ex  Embassy      .       (c) 

King  Edward  Vll  Fund,  Cash  Cistribution     (b) 
Amount  expended   in   Organisation  and   Upkeep 

of  Camp,  viz: 

Wages  paid  to  interned  prisoners  (Latrines, 
Kitchens',  Fatigue   Parties,  etc)    .      .       (a) 

Disinfecting  and  Sanitc»ry  arrangements.  Medi- 
cines, Hospital  Expenses.  Funeral  Expen- 
ses, Office  Books  and  Stationery.  Grand 
Stand  Seating  Accomodaiion  and  Stages, 
making  good  damage  done  to  Camp  pro- 
perty. Repairs  to  windows,  Purchase  of 
utensils  such  as  Bread  Cutting  machines. 
Pails,  Brooms,  Watering  Cans,  etc  Shop 
Fixtures  and  Shelves  Canteen  Improve- 
m  nts.  Alteration  to  Parcels  Post  Depart- 
ment Office,  Bridging  Race  Course  Track, 
Deposit  to  Race  Course  Association  for 
permission  to  use  ground  for  playing  pur- 
poses,  etc    etc.      .......       (a) 


Cash  in  Hand   and   at   Bank \ 

Stock  in  Trade  at  Canteens     .     -      •     - 

Sundry   Debtors •      •      : 

Items  paid  in  advance.  Rent.  etc. 

Sundry   Creditors   for  Goods,  etc    supplied 

Sundry  Creditors   for  Cash  on   Deposit 


io,4f>:>.sr. 

779.58 
(;7,289..5() 
lO.ir/).— 


:;,l9r>.2'» 


('...394.7 1 


■2i.mn  — 


21.458.90 
10,401.— 

09,000  — 


101,304.84 
11.891.41 

■jo,2<;(;.o-j 

1.9:5:5.73 

:;5:{.— 

1 '22,8.59.90 

'.»,032.7;; 

3.85(5.07 

1:55.749  30 

i:{5.74{Ui» 

INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

The  parcels  of  food  dispatched  from  home 
only  arrived  in  the  nick  of  time — had  they 
been  delayed  there  would  be  few  remaining 
in  Ruhleben  to-day,  for  we  were  virtually 
in  extremis.  Once  the  parcels  commenced 
to  trickle  in,  and  the  stream  grew  more  vo- 
luminous with  each  succeeding  week,  our 
dread  apprehensions  vanished.  The  lucky 
recipients  of  the  first  parcels  saved  the  situ- 
ation, for  they  shared  their  food  as  far  as 
they  were  able.  It  was  a  curious  spectacle 
to  see  a  man  without  a  cent  in  his  pocket 
with  which  to  buy  food,  but  who  had  a  par- 
cel from  home,  dividing  the  contents  with 
one  or  two  colleagues  whose  pockets  were 
bulging,  or  at  least  well-lined,  but  who  could 
not  turn  it  to  useful  purchasing  account  at 
the  time,  and  whose  parcel  had  not  arrived. 
But  it  was  turn  and  turn  about:  we  were 
brothers  in  adversity. 

When  we  learned  that  bread  was  on  the 
way  to  the  camp  from  England  we  specu- 
lated among  ourselves  as  to  whether  we 
should  really  get  it.  Would  the  mob, 
pressed  by  hunger,  allow  it  to  reach  the 
camp?     Would   not   the  harassed   German 

353 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

housewives  and  their  men-folk  raid  the 
vehicles  laden  therew^ith?  Such  were  the 
fears  which  disturbed  our  minds.  But  the 
authorities  had  taken  adequate  precautions 
to  insure  the  safe  delivery  of  the  prisoners' 
parcels  and  the  vans  were  brought  into 
camp  under  a  strong  military  guard  with 
loaded  rifles.  We  appreciated  this  protec- 
tion upon  the  part  of  the  authorities.  It 
conveyed  the  impression  of  being  prepared 
to  give  us  a  square  deal,  at  least  in  one  con- 
nection, and  so  far  as  my  experience  is  con- 
cerned, I  never  lost  a  food  parcel  from  home. 
But  bread  was  not  the  only  foodstuff 
which  occasioned  anxiety.  Milk  was  in 
heavy  demand,  especially  among  some  of 
the  more  delicate  prisoners  who  could  not 
digest  the  infamous  war-bread.  Milk  was 
easily  procurable  at  the  canteen,  and  at  the 
nominal  price  of  33^d.  to  4d.,  until  suddenly 
the  Berlin  press,  learning  that  we  were 
getting  a  first  quality  article  of  high  stand- 
ard at  a  low  figure,  wanted  to  know  why 
British  prisoners  should  be  permitted  to  fare 
better  than  their  own  people?  It  was  a 
specious  argument,  but  merely  begged  the 

354 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

question,  as  the  milk  was  bought  and  sold 
by  the  Communal  authorities.  However,  the 
newspaper  agitation  bore  fruit  and  fresh 
milk  was  knocked  off  the  list  of  permissible 
foodstuffs.  Limited  quantities  were  re- 
served for  the  use  of  invalids,  but  in  a  few 
weeks  only  skim  milk  could  be  obtained, 
which,  in  turn,  gave  way  to  condensed  milk. 
At  intervals  a  wail  went  up  in  the  domestic 
press  over  some  other  article  of  food  which 
could  be  obtained  in  the  camp,  with  the  com- 
ment that  it  was  scarcely  playing  the  game 
to  permit  mere  prisoners  to  secure  what 
was  denied  the  German  population.  Such 
protests  invariably  achieved  the  writers'  de- 
sired end — the  article  under  criticism  van- 
ished from  our  list  of  foodstuffs — but  there 
was  one  feeling  of  satisfaction.  The  Ger- 
man public,  as  a  whole,  was  suffering  quite 
as  acutely  as  we  were.  The  camp  was  over- 
whelmed with  stories  relating  to  the  food 
riots  in  Berlin.  At  first  we  attributed  them 
to  rumor,  but  the  stories  were  so  circum- 
stantial as  to  compel  us  to  believe  that  there 
must  be  some  truth  in  them. 
To  satisfy  our  curiosity  upon  the  point  we 

355 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

pestered  our  guards  with  questions,  but  they 
maintained  a  chilling  silence:  they  knew 
nothing  about  the  incidents  to  which  we  re- 
ferred. But  when  the  guard  was  changed 
we  found  the  newcomers,  who  had  experi- 
enced a  turn  in  the  trenches,  far  more  com- 
municative. One  or  two  of  the  soldiers  with 
whom  I  contrived  to  get  on  intimate  terms 
admitted  that  women  and  children  had  been 
shot  during  frenzied  food  riots  in  the  capital. 
They  did  not  seem  to  be  surprised  at  such 
action,  because  they,  in  the  trenches,  as  they 
candidly  admitted,  had  been  unable  to  obtain 
sufficient  food,  and  had  been  forced  to 
sustain  themselves  on  bread  which  was  quite 
as  objectionable  as  ours. 

At  first  I  thought  they  were  merely  ro- 
mancing in  order  to  keep  us  quiet,  but  from 
personal  observation  and  investigation  I  dis- 
covered that  they  had  under-rated,  rather 
than  exaggerated,  the  alarming  state  of 
afifairs  in  Germany.  Many  of  us,  unable  to 
eat  the  war-bread,  or  because  we  were  rely- 
ing upon  supplies  from  home,  were  disposed 
to  be  wasteful  with  the  ration.  We  would 
eat  the  outer  crust  and  well-cooked  portions, 

356 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

discarding  the   remainder  of  it  as   refuse. 

This  wastage  was  observed  by  the  powers- 
that-be,  and  accordingly  an  order  was  cir- 
culated that  bread  was  not  to  be  wasted. 
What  was  not  required,  or  that  which  had 
deteriorated  from  prolonged  keeping,  was 
to  be  placed  in  a  special  bin  attached  to  each 
barrack  for  official  collection  at  intervals. 
We  were  told  that  it  was  to  be  served  out 
to  the  pigs. 

Night  after  night  I  observed  the  soldiers 
ransacking  these  bins  to  add  to  their  stinted 
fare,  but  discreetly  turned  a  blind  eye  in  such 
direction,  as  it  was  to  our  advantage  to  keep 
on  good  terms  with  the  guard.  After  all, 
these  soldiers  who  had  been  through  the 
furnace  of  shell  and  explosive  on  the  West- 
ern Front  were  not  bad  fellows  at  heart: 
they  were  far  more  friendly  and  sympa- 
thetic than  our  former  guards,  and  when 
they  first  came  to  the  camp  there  had  been 
a  lively  time  between  the  two.  The  out- 
going soldiers  referred  to  us  as  dirty 
schweinhunde  of  Englishmen  who  must  be 
closely  watched,  and  they  proceeded  to  give 
the  newcomers  many  tips.    The  men  from 

357 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  front  listened  patiently  and  then  shook 
their  heads  sagely  as  they  remarked,  ''You, 
comrades,  have  not  been  to  the  trenches 
yet.  We  have,  and  w^e  know  more  about  the 
Britishers  than  you  do.  They  are  not  at 
all  bad  fellov^^s,  and,  look  you  here,  they  are 
clean  fighters!"  Such  home  truths  wtvt  far 
from  being  palatable  to  the  off-going  guards, 
but  the  rav^  fighting  man  could  not  argue 
v^ith  the  veteran,  and  so  departed  strafing 
us  more  ferociously  than  ever,  until  experi- 
ence in  the  trenches  perhaps  brought  about 
a  change  of  opinion. 

But  v^e  could  not  resist  meditating  upon 
the  outcome  of  it  all.  When  under-officers 
and  privates  v^ere  ready  to  quarrel  like  the 
sparrov^s  over  bread  refuse,  w^hat  would 
happen  when  the  people  at  large  came  to 
the  end  of  the  tether  of  patient  waiting? 
Everyone  knew  we  were  receiving  excellent 
food  from  home,  for  the  appetizing  con- 
tents of  the  parcels  consigned  to  Ruhleben 
were  bruited  far  and  wide.  When  we  were 
unduly  depressed  we  would  speculate  as  to 
whether  the  emaciated  populace,  driven  by 
hunger,  would  resort  to  force,  and  make  a 

35S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

bold  bid  to  intercept  our  parcels.  This 
thought  was  ever  in  our  minds,  and  it  is  a 
possibility  which  to-day  disturbs  the  seren- 
ity, such  as  it  is,  of  Ruhleben  Camp  more 
than  anything  else.  The  day  mob  law  se- 
cures the  upper  hand  in  the  Germanic  Em- 
pire, and  the  consignment  of  the  parcels  for 
prisoners  at  Ruhleben  becomes  imperilled, 
travail  will  come  to  the  camp.  Without 
supplies  from  England  the  civilians  interned 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Spree  must  certainly 
perish. 

To  those  who  are  sleeping  soundly  at 
home  this  statement  may  not  seem  con- 
vincing, but  it  is  one  which  will  be  endorsed 
by  every  man  who  has  suffered  in  Ruhleben. 
It  was  a  frequent  topic  of  conversation,  and 
though  we  used  to  laugh  as  we  sat  round 
our  table  enjoying  the  array  of  delicacies 
contained  in  the  latest  package  from  home, 
and  would  jocularly  venture  ^Wonder 
what'U  happen  if  the  beggars  ever  take  it 
into  their  heads  to  raid  our  parcels?"  We 
did  not  turn  a  blind  eye  to  such  a  possi- 
bility. 


359 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

FREEDOM  AT  LAST 

Our  ranks  were  thinned  from  time  to  time 
by  the  sending  home  of  certain  prisoners, 
but  only  a  few  at  a  time  went  at  first,  and 
those  at  rare  intervals.  For  the  most  part, 
those  set  free  were  suffering  from  physical 
degeneration  as  a  result  of  their  privations, 
or,  what  was  more  frequently  the  case, 
showing  signs  of  mental  breakdown  from 
the  same  cause.  The  first  were  hurried 
away  because  the  authorities  were  anxious 
to  keep  down  the  mortality  rate  at  Ruhle- 
ben;  the  second,  because  the  domestic  asy- 
lums were  already  overcrowded  by  Germans 
whose  minds  had  given  way. 

This  selection  of  prisoners  for  return  to 
Britain  only  served  to  bring  home  to  those 
remaining  behind  the  utter  hopelessness  of 
their  position.  It  seemed  as  if  the  Ger- 
man threat  that  we  were  to  be  kept  and 

3(^0 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

herded  like  cattle  until  the  war  was  over 
was  to  be  fulfilled.  From  whatever  view- 
point the  future  was  regarded  the  prospect 
was  black.  We  could  not  dispel  the  feeling 
that  the  war  might  last  for  years,  and  that 
as  the  Germans  became  more  and  more  hard 
pressed,  our  conditions  would  grow  worse. 
The  alternative  of  losing  our  minds  before 
securing  freedom  was  equally  depressing. 

The  effect  upon  the  more  morbid  of  the 
prisoners  was  disastrous.  They  either  could 
not  or  would  not  shake  off  their  feeling  of 
despair;  and  from  prolonged  brooding  over 
their  situation,  they  grew  weak  both  in  body 
and  mind,  could  not  sleep  and  forget  their 
troubles  for  a  little  while,  and  lost  what  ap- 
petite they  might  have  had  for  Ruhleben 
fare. 

Although  the  authorities  at  Ruhleben  re- 
frained from  torturing  the  bodies  of  their 
captives,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  stretch 
their  minds  upon  the  rack  of  suspense,  buoy- 
ing up  the  hopes  we  raised,  to  thrust  us  back 
again  into  the  depths  of  despair. 

The  capabilities  of  the  Germans  in  this 
respect  were  brought  home  to  the  Ruhle- 

361 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ben  prisoners  most  acutely  upon  the  occa- 
sion of  the  first  notable  exchange  of  prison- 
ers, which  took  place  in  November,  1915.  Ru- 
mors to  the  effect  that  some  big  movement 
of  this  sort  was  under  way  had  been  flying 
through  the  camp  for  some  time,  and  we 
noticed  that  the  authorities,  contrary  to  the 
established  practice,  did  not  contradict  the 
statement. 

The  anticipation  with  which  we  looked 
forward  to  some  definite  official  step  to- 
wards the  realization  of  our  dream  of  re- 
lease may  be  imagined.  The  all-is-lost 
brigade  became  quite  chirpy,  and  went  about 
with  smiles  on  their  faces.  When  at  last 
a  parade  was  called  and  numerous  ques- 
tions were  asked  bearing  upon  the  subject 
all  had  at  heart,  excitement  grew  intense. 
The  camp  buzzed  like  a  beehive  awakening 
from  its  period  of  hibernation  with  the  first 
burst  of  spring  sunshine.  Speculation  as  to 
how  many  would  be  chosen,  in  case  we  were 
not  all  released,  rose  to  fever-heat.  But  as 
the  days  passed  without  result  faces  once 
more  began  to  droop  and  spirits  to  flag 
zerowards. 

362 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Then  came  a  revival  of  excitement.  The 
authorities  called  out  a  list  of  names  during 
a  parade,  and  announced  that  these  prison- 
ers were  to  have  their  photographs  taken. 
Single  portraits  were  ordered  and  we  were 
informed  that  arrangements  had  been  made 
for  a  photographer  to  visit  the  camp.  We 
were  to  pay  for  our  own  photographs.  There 
was  a  mad  rush  by  the  lucky  ones  to  the 
corner  of  the  camp  where  the  man  with  the 
camera  had  pitched  his  studio,  consisting  of 
a  bench  capable  of  receiving  three  sitters  at 
a  time.  I  think  no  photographer  has  ever 
been  surrounded  by  such  a  bevy  of  excited 
clients.  Certainly  he  drove  a  brisk  trade. 
The  order  called  for  two  copies  of  each  por- 
trait, one,  as  we  learned  subsequently,  to 
affix  to  the  passport  and  the  other  for  filing 
in  the  records. 

Of  course,  the  fact  that  photographs  had 
been  ordered  was  regarded  by  everyone  as 
a  step  nearer  home.  To  some  of  the  for- 
tunate prisoners  the  homeland  appeared  to 
be  just  over  the  fence.  The  frenzy  which 
prevailed  was  indescribable.  But  that  pho- 
tographing  preliminary    proved    a    terrible 

3^3 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

snare.  It  was  not  the  stepping-stone  to 
freedom,  as  the  majority  declared.  There 
are  many  prisoners  in  Ruhleben  to-day 
whose  portraits  were  taken  as  far  back  as 
November,  1915,  and  to  them  home  is  still  as 
remote  as  ever. 

One  despicably  cruel  episode  in  connection 
with  this  deserves  to  be  related,  if  merely 
because  it  indicates  the  lengths  of  mental 
torture  to  which  German  system  will  pro- 
ceed. The  photographer  had  completed  his 
work  for  the  day.  Suddenly  a  few  more 
prisoners'  names  were  given  out.  Radiant 
with  pleasure  at  the  unexpected  turn  of 
events  in  their  favor  these  men  presented 
themselves  to  the  photographer,  their  por- 
traits were  taken  and  they  received  the 
stipulated  two  prints,  for  which  they  paid 
the  usual  eighteenpence.  But  those  prison- 
ers were  destined  to  observe  party  after 
party  of  prisoners  depart  homewards  with- 
out being  included  among  their  number. 
The  reason  we  discovered  afterwards.  Ap- 
parently the  photographer  had  driven  a  bar- 
gain with  the  authorities.  He  had  contracted 
to  take  so  many  portraits  per  day,  to  make 

3(^4 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

the  visit  to  the  camp  worth  his  while.  Upon 
this  occasion  the  number  fell  short,  so  the 
deficiency  was  made  up  by  selecting  prison- 
ers to  the  number  required,  merely  to  have 
their  photographs  taken,  and  thus  enable 
the  man  with  the  camera  to  draw  the  sum 
for  which  he  had  contracted.  It  was  pure 
robbery  as  well  as  cruelty,  but  it  fulfilled 
the  much-vaunted  German  system. 

Reverting  to  the  first  photographic  pre- 
liminary, a  few  days  elapsed  and  the  reports 
were  circulated  that  at  six  o'clock  the  follow- 
ing morning  a  list  of  the  names  of  those 
prisoners  who  were  to  be  exchanged  would 
be  posted  on  the  camp  notice-board.  As  may 
be  readily  imagined,  there  was  little  sleep 
among  the  prisoners  that  night.  The  san- 
guine passed  the  dragging  hours  packing 
their  belongings,  while  others  were  too 
keyed  up  to  speak,  or  nursed  terrible  fears 
that,  after  all,  they  might  not  be  numbered 
among  the  lucky  ones. 

The  night  dragged  wearily  and  far  too 
slowly.  In  the  early  hours  of  that  chilly 
morning,  when  the  buildings  stood  out  more 
drab   and   somber   than    ever   against    the 

3<^5 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

murky  eastern  sky,  the  prisoners  made  their 
way  to  the  notice-board.  That  space, 
although  blank  as  yet,  was  an  irresistible 
magnet.  It  possessed  an  element  of 
cheerfulness  and  budding  hope  which 
the  barracks  could  never  give.  They 
whistled,  hummed,  chatted  excitedly, 
stamped  their  feet  and  clapped  their  hands 
across  their  chests  to  keep  themselves 
warm  and  their  spirits  at  boiling  point. 
By  five  o'clock  the  board  was  surrounded 
by  a  clamoring  ocean,  hundreds  having 
turned  their  feet  in  its  direction  in  the  half- 
hope  that,  at  the  last  minute,  some  miracle 
had  occurred  to  bring  their  name  upon  the 
fateful  list. 

When  at  last  the  papers  were  posted  up, 
a  wild  scramble  ensued.  Men  at  the  rear 
clambered  upon  the  backs  of  those  in  front, 
in  the  effort  to  catch  sight  of  the  magic 
letters  forming  their  name.  Those  in  the 
front  row,  spotting  the  name  of  a  colleague, 
3^elled  it  out  lustily,  and  gave  a  wild  cheer 
of  delight.  Caps  were  thrown  into  the  air, 
strange  capers  were  cut  by  those  giving  vent 
to  their  pent-up  frenzy.    "Old  boys"  of  sixty 

366 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

years  of  age  cavorted  like  lambs.  Con- 
gratulations were  showered  on  one  and  all. 
Many  of  the  more  wearied  and  ill  were  so 
overcome  at  the  realization  of  their  fondest 
hopes  that  they  could  only  express  their 
pleasure  in  tears. 

That  morning  revealed  one  of  the  strong- 
est traits  of  the  British  character — its  cheer- 
ful stoicism.  The  German  soldiers  were 
nonplussed.  They  could  not  understand  how 
prisoners  who  had  been  turned  down,  could 
whoop  and  cheer  as  frantically  and  gaily  at 
the  luck  of  a  colleague,  as  if  they  themselves 
were  bound  for  home. 

But  there  was  another  side  to  the  picture 
— one  which  was  tragic  and  pathetic.  Some 
of  those  who  had  been  confident  of  release 
went  almost  crazy  with  disappointment  and 
rage  when  they  discovered  their  names  to 
be  missing  from  the  list.  They  scanned  it 
time  after  time  in  a  kind  of  stupor,  fearing 
that  in  their  first  hasty  perusal  they  had 
made  a  mistake.  Then,  the  awful  truth 
dawning  upon  them  that  they  were  to  re- 
main in  the  camp  indefinitely,  re-action  set 
in.     Some  fell  to  the  ground  in  utter  de- 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

jection.  Others  crawled  away  silently  to  a 
quiet  corner  to  nurse  their  bitter  defeat. 
Still  more  crept  back  to  their  barracks, 
sullen,  taciturn,  and  almost  demented,  with 
an  uncanny,  furtive  glint  in  their  eyes. 
Though  that  fateful  board  brought  the 
greatest  happiness  in  life  to  many,  to  others 
it  was  nought  but  the  indication  of  a  blank, 
black  future. 

The  lucky  were  instantly  besieged  by 
their  fellow-prisoners.  Those  who  were  to 
remain  behind,  seeing  the  opportunity  to 
establish  a  link  with  home,  threw  discretion 
to  the  winds.  Grabbing  any  fragments  of 
paper  which  happened  to  be  handy,  they 
hastily  scribbled  unfettered,  open-hearted 
letters  to  their  loved  ones  across  the  North 
Sea,  and  hurled  them  at  those  who  were 
going,  with  the  request  to  see  that  they  were 
duly  delivered.  Letters  rained  through  the 
air  as  thickly  as  snowflakes  in  the  northern 
wind.  Some  were  picked  up  and  thrust  into 
pockets  by  the  excited  men  who  were  about 
to  leave  us.  But  some  of  the  men,  remem- 
bering the  ordinance  that  no  communica- 
tions of  any  description  were  to  be  carried 

36S 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY. 

away  by  returning  prisoners,  committed  the 
contents  to  memory. 

The  regulation  concerning  the  conveyance 
of  letters  was  exceedingly  drastic.  The 
order  set  forth  that  no  papers  of  any  de- 
scription were  to  be  taken  out  of  the  camp. 
Newspapers,  even  those  of  German  origin, 
were  included  in  the  ban.  A  preliminary 
search  was  to  be  made  in  the  camp  before 
departure,  and  the  final  and  most  inquisi- 
tive investigation  was  to  be  conducted  at 
the  frontier.  Every  prisoner  was  warned 
that  if  any  paper  were  discovered  at  the 
latter  point,  then  the  carrier  thereof  would 
be  immediately  taken  back  to  the  camp,  and 
would  have  to  stay  there  until  the  war  was 
over,  no  matter  what  happened. 

But  even  that  list  upon  the  notice-board 
came  to  be  regarded  with  fear.  It  had  not 
been  up  very  long  before  an  official  ap- 
peared, and,  running  down  the  list,  erased 
certain  names.  At  this  action  there  was  a 
fearful  uproar.  Had  the  list  merely  been 
posted  to  tease  and  harry  us?  Was  this  an- 
other manifestation  of  Teuton  cruelty  in  a 
refined  form?     It  certainly  looked  like  it. 

3^9 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

And  no  further  names  were  substituted  for 
those  withdrawn!  At  frequent  intervals  the 
official  re-appeared,  and  further  revisions 
were  made.  Truly  the  list  was  becoming  as 
fearful  a  trap  as  the  procedure  of  being 
photographed.  As  the  hours  passed,  the 
fretting  prisoners  became  more  and  more 
intractable.  The  men  who  had  concluded 
that  they  were  certain  to  reach  home  before 
Christmas,  shuffled  about  the  camp,  their 
limbs  twitching  from  nervous  tension,  afraid 
to  peruse  the  board,  yet  hanging  around  it 
with  a  strange  interest,  and  scarcely  daring 
to  speak. 

No  relief  to  the  torturing  anxiety  came 
until  after  "lights  out"  the  following  day, 
when  the  captain  of  each  barrack,  in  accord- 
ance with  instructions,  presented  himself  to 
the  men  within  his  particular  building.  The 
prisoners  had  sought  the  solace  of  their 
couches.  He  stood  in  the  gangway  of  the 
ground-floor,  his  face  unusually  grave  and 
set.  Then  in  slow,  loud  tones,  so  that  all 
might  hear,  he  cried: 

"All  those  who  have  been  photographed 
with  a  view  to  exchange,  and  whose  names 

370 


INTERNED   IN   GERMANY 

have  not  been  struck  off  the  list,  must  ap- 
pear at  the  Captain's  office — the  bureau  of 
the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Camp — to- 
morrow at  2.30,  to  have  their  passports 
signed  by  a  representative  from  the  Ameri- 
can Embassy.  Although  I  am  sorry  for 
those  whose  names  have  been  struck  off,  it 
is  absolutely  useless  for  them  to  keep  wor- 
rying the  Captains,  as  we  have  no  knowledge 
whatever  as  to  the  reason  for  such  action. 
The  order  came  direct  from  the  military 
authorities  in  Berlin,  and  for  all  I  know 
they  may  be  restored  to  the  list  to-morrow 
morning." 

The  announcement  was  received  with 
mixed  feelings.  Those  whose  names  had 
weathered  the  fickleness  of  the  authorities 
were  jubilant  in  a  restrained  manner,  and 
they  had  a  kindly  thought  for  those  who 
were  suffering  such  bitter  disappointment. 
Turning  to  these  comrades,  they  remarked, 
with  evident  feeling  and  forced  gaiety, 
"Cheer  up,  boys,  your  turn  will  come  next 
month." 

Preparation  of  the  passports  was  a  pro- 
tracted and  searching  ordeal.    The  authori- 

371 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

ties  were  determined  that  no  substitution 
should  occur,  through  a  prisoner,  overcome 
by  sympathy  for  a  comrade,  sacrificing  his 
chance  to  return  home.  The  following  days 
saw  further  racking  suspense,  for  never  a 
word  was  vouchsafed  as  to  when  the  actual 
departure  for  home  would  take  place.  The 
uncertainty  was  agonizing,  because  by  this 
time,  from  what  had  previously  occurred, 
every  lucky  prisoner  realized  that  he  could 
not  count  himself  out  of  the  German  clutches 
until  he  had  actually  crossed  the  frontier 
and  Avas  off  the  hated  soil  of  the  country. 
There  was  the  constant  risk  of  the  slip  be- 
tween the  cup  and  the  lip. 

Again  the  captain  of  each  barrack  pre- 
sented himself  to  enunciate  an  official  com- 
mand. On  this  occasion  he  was  very  brief. 
He  merely  stated: 

"All  those  who  have  had  their  passports 
signed  must  present  themselves  at  the 
guardhouse  to-morrow  morning  at  ten 
o'clock,  with  whatever  luggage  they  wish 
to  take  home." 

That  was  all.    But  it  brought  distinct  re- 

37^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

lief  to  many  a  harassed  mind.  That  night 
was  one  of  remarkable  activity.  The  lucky 
prisoners  busied  themselves  packing  their 
treasures  and  belongings,  indulged  in  part- 
ing chats  v^ith  the  men  v^ho  had  been  their 
comrades  for  sixteen  weary  months,  partook 
of  farewell  feasts  arranged  in  their  honor, 
and  went  round  to  other  buildings  to  shake 
hands  with  their  friends.  Never  was  the 
dawn  of  day  awaited  more  anxiously  than 
by  these  men  who  were  so  soon  to  be  free. 
They  were  far  too  excited  to  sleep,  and 
those  who  were  to  be  left  behind  were  every 
whit  as  anxious  to  witness  their  departure. 
At  the  back  of  our  heads  we  feared  that 
something  would  happen,  which,  according 
to  Teuton  logic,  would  be  sufficient  to  make 
them  change  their  decision,  even  at  the  very 
last  minute.  This  was  the  first  big  exchange 
of  prisoners.  If  it  failed,  or  a  hitch  occurred, 
then  we  might  look  forward  to  long  exile 
in  Ruhleben.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the 
bargain  were  conducted  honestly  by  the 
German  Government,  there  was  hope  for 
all,  since  we  had  already  ascertained  that 
such   exchanges  were   to   be   conducted  at 

373 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

monthly  intervals.  Alas!  Hope  springs 
eternal,  but  I  think  it  has  disappeared  from 
the  hearts  of  many  of  the  weary  prisoners 
who  even  today  still  remain  in  Ruhleben. 
As  may  be  imagined  there  were  no  lag- 
gards at  the  guardhouse  the  next  morning. 
Long  before  ten  o'clock,  the  appointed  hour, 
those  who  were  to  be  released  were  at  the 
rendezvous.  I  shall  never  forget  the  proces- 
sion, and  the  assembly  lined  up  for  the  final 
procedure  before  leaving  the  detested  camp. 
It  was  a  motley  crowd  and  a  sickening  spec- 
tacle. I  do  not  think  there  were  half  a  dozen 
fit  men  among  them.  The  sifting  process 
had  been  conducted  by  the  German  authori- 
ties only  too  well.  They  did  not  intend  to 
free  a  man,  who,  upon  his  return  home  would 
be  of  help  in  prosecuting  the  war.  Some 
were  so  debilitated  and  ill  that  they  could 
scarcely  walk;  one  or  two  were  carried; 
others  were  so  weak,  famished,  and  in  a 
condition  of  semi-collapse,  as  to  be  quite 
unable  to  carry  their  baggage.  There  were 
many  willing  hands  to  help  them.  The  re- 
maining prisoners  generously  shouldered 
the  luggage,  and  extended  stronger  arms  to 

374 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

support  the  weak.     A  fair  sprinkling  were 
demented. 

The  weather  was  execrable.    A  keen  wind 
was  driving  across  the  camp,  and  it  carried 
the  penetrating  sting  of  winter.    The  pris- 
oners upon  reaching  the  guardhouse  were 
ordered  to  set  their  traps  upon  the  ground 
in  front  of  them,  and  to  release  all  straps 
and  fastenings,  to  enable  the  examination 
to  be  conducted  with  as  little  trouble  to  the 
authorities  as  possible.     Then    they    were 
ordered    to    "stand    by.'*      The    halt    and 
maimed,  presenting  pictures  of  utter  misery, 
despite    the   twisted    smiles    which   lighted 
their  wan  faces,  shivered  as  the  freezing 
wind  broke  against  them,  and  rubbed  their 
tired  weak  limbs  to  keep  life  in  them.     It 
was  merely  the  joy  of  getting  away  from 
the  accursed  spot,  the  anticipation  of  being 
in  their  own  homes  within  the  immediate 
future,  and  the  fact  that  they  would  soon 
have  the  company  and  care  of  their  loved 
ones  to  nurse  them  back  to  health  which  kept 
them  up.     Had  anything  happened  at  this 
last  minute  to  delay  their  freedom  I  believe 
that  many  men  would  have  dropped  where 
they  stood. 

375 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY^ 

The  authorities  did  not  make  the  slightest 
attempt  to  hasten  the  formalities,  but  at 
last  the  officials  came  trundling  out,  and  the 
search  commenced. 

The  baggage  was  put  through  its  paces. 
This  operation  was  conducted  with  German 
thoroughness.  Some  of  the  bags  were  about 
as  decrepit  as  their  owners,  wear  and  tear 
had  played  sad  havoc  with  handbags,  grips, 
and  portmanteaux.  Many  were  in  frag- 
ments, and  odd  corners  of  the  leather  ex- 
terior were  missing,  but  liberal  recourse  to 
string  enabled  strapping  difficulties  to  be 
overcome,  and  many  layers  of  newspaper 
covering  the  jagged  holes  formed  a  passable" 
covering  for  the  contents. 

This  newspaper  armoring  was  regarded 
as  an  infringement  of  the  regulations  and 
was  ruthlessly  torn  out,  to  be  collected  for 
destruction.  Not  a  scrap  of  paper  was  per- 
mitted to  remain.  Even  the  letters  which 
prisoners  had  received  from  their  families, 
relatives  and  friends,  and  which  they  cher- 
ished affectionately,  were  confiscated.  Many 
of  the  prisoners  had  received  photographs 
of  their  wives,   sweethearts,  and  children, 


INTERNED   IN    GERMANY 

from  home.  By  dint  of  great  patience  they 
had  made  wooden  frames  for  these  pictures, 
and  therewith  had  graced  the  walls  of  their 
prison.  Even  these  were  not  spared.  The 
officials  tore  the  photographs  out  and  threw 
them  to  the  ground.  The  prisoners  were 
free  to  take  home  the  empty  frames!  The 
ransacking  of  the  baggage,  and  the  heart- 
less confiscation  of  such  jealously  guarded 
treasures  were  harrowing,  and  the  tears 
coursed  down  the  cheeks  of  the  older  and 
more  enfeebled. 

Each  article  within  a  bag  was  taken  out, 
shaken,  and  closely  examined.  As  the 
articles  passed  scrutiny  they  were  flung  to 
the  ground.  When  the  ordeal  was  com- 
pleted the  prisoner  was  compelled  to  repack 
his  bag.  By  the  time  the  search  was  fin- 
ished, every  bag  was  appreciably  lighter, 
and  those  which  had  suffered  from  the  rav- 
ages of  war  and  internment  were  sorry 
articles  indeed.  The  contents  protruded 
pathetically  through  the  jagged  holes,  cracks 
and  crevices.  It  was  merely  the  string 
which  kept  the  goods  intact. 

The   search    revealed   to   us    the   critical 

377 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

straits  to  which  the  German  nation  had  been 
reduced  by  the  British  blockade.  Owing  to 
the  cold  the  prisoners  had  purchased  at  the 
camp  canteen,  woolen  underclothing,  rugs, 
and  other  articles  of  attire.  Everything  was 
unceremoniously  removed  from  the  bags, 
and  the  order  was  announced  that  no  woolen 
goods  of  any  description  were  to  be  allowed 
to  leave  the  camp.  Some  of  the  prisoners 
had  also  purchased  new  boots  when  they 
discovered  that  their  release  was  definitely 
concluded,  and  had  packed  these  in  their 
bags,  preferring  to  travel  in  the  old  foot- 
wear until  the  country  had  been  left  behind. 
But  new  leather  boots  came  under  a  similar 
ban,  and  were  to  be  left  behind.  The  for- 
bidden articles  were  not  actually  confiscated. 
They  were  not  to  be  taken  out  of  the  camp. 
They  could  be  taken  back  to  barracks,  where 
their  owners  were  free  to  sell  or  to  give 
them  to  their  colleagues.  One  or  two  of  the 
more  resourceful  prisoners  dodged  the  order 
concerning  new  footwear  very  neatly. 
When  the  boots  were  removed  from  their 
bags  they  promptly  sat  on  the  ground  and 
changed  them,  leaving  the  discarded  articles 

37S 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

for  anyone  who  might  like  to  appropriate 
them.  The  officials  were  somewhat  amazed 
at  this  solution  of  the  problem,  but  they 
could  do  nothing  to  prevent  the  action,  since 
the  boots  were  the  prisoners'  private  prop- 
erty while  he  was  in  the  camp.  Exchange 
is  no  robbery,  says  the  proverb,  and  in  this 
instance  I  think  the  Britishers  got  the  best 
of  the  bargain. 

Jewelry  was  also  prohibited  at  a  later  date. 
I  had  purchased  a  solid  silver  bag  for  my 
wife.  It  was  purchased  with  hard-earned 
money,  and  I  valued  it  highly,  more  espe- 
cially as,  during  my  leisure,  I  had  freely  en- 
graved it,  this  handiwork  including,  among 
other  devices,  the  inscription  of  the  names 
of  the  four  prisons  in  which  I  had  been  in- 
carcerated— Wesel,  Sennelager,  Klingelputz 
and  Ruhleben — together  with  the  respective 
dates.  I  was  not  allowed  to  take  this  away 
from  Ruhleben. 

The  examination  completed,  and  the  bags 
repacked  and  sealed,  the  prisoners  were 
dismissed  with  the  curt  intimation  that  they 
were  to  parade  the  following  morning  at 
five  o'clock  at  the  casino.     The  prisoners 

379 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

were  not  permitted  to  carry  their  baggage 
back  to  the  barracks.  This  was  placed 
tinder  guard,  and  taken  to  the  railway  sta- 
tion by  a  special  van.  As  may  be  supposed 
this  final  examination  was  followed  keenly 
by  the  other  prisoners.  They  were  alert  to 
gain  points.  No  one  knew  but  that  his  turn 
might  come  the  following  month,  so  it  was 
just  as  well  to  learn  as  much  concerning  the 
necessary  formalities  as  possible,  and  to 
make  complete  arrangements  to  satisfy  the 
authorities. 

The  following  morning  the  camp  turned 
out  en  masse  to  speed  the  parting  men.  The 
lucky  prisoners  were  lined  up  and  searched, 
the  prisoners  who  were  to  be  left  behind  be- 
ing carefully  roped  ofiF  to  prevent  smuggling 
of  forbidden  communications  and  articles. 
This  operation  was  conducted  quickly,  and 
the  officials,  to  the  amazement  of  the  spec- 
tators, appeared  to  be  imbued  with  a  sudden 
desire  to  treat  the  departing  men  with  civil- 
ity and  courtesy,  doubtless  to  create  a  final 
good  impression.  As  they  were  marched 
oflf  to  the  station  we  gave  them  a  rousing 
farewell  cheer.     We  who  were  to  remain 

3^0 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

behind,  though  heavy  in  heart,  were  not  to 
be  downed.  A  precedent  had  been  estab- 
lished, and  there  was  every  reason  to  cherish 
the  hope  that  we  might  be  numbered  among 
a  future  fortunate  batch. 

The  journey  was  not  free  from  tragedy. 
Before  many  miles  had  been  covered  the 
train  had  to  be  stopped.  Once  the  train  had 
started,  and  the  terrible  buildings  consti- 
tuting the  internment  camp  of  Ruhleben  had 
slipped  from  sight,  one  of  the  prisoners, 
overcome  by  the  prospect  of  soon  reaching 
home,  fell  a  victim  to  the  forces  of  reaction. 
His  body  was  removed  to  be  committed  to 
German  soil. 

Such  is  the  procedure  to  which  exchanged 
prisoners  are  submitted  before  they  are  al- 
low^ed  to  leave  Ruhleben. 

The  establishment  of  the  exchange  sys- 
tem was  of  far-reaching  individual  concern 
to  myself.  For  some  months  I  had  been 
hoping  against  hope  that,  sooner  or  later, 
some  such  arrangement  might  be  concluded, 
and  accordingly  I  had  laid  my  own  plans 
to  secure  freedom. 

Many  may  wonder  how,  and  why,  in  view 

381 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

of  the  so-called  perfection  of  Teuton  organ- 
ization, a  prisoner,  young  and  active  such 
as  myself,  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  the 
clutches  of  the  Germans,  especially  as  I  had 
been  arrested  as  a  spy  in  the  pay  of  the 
British  Government,  had  suffered  the  ago- 
nies of  solitary  confinement,  had  been  sub- 
jected to  a  rigorous  secret  trial,  w^as  regarded 
as  a  dangerous  person,  and  had  never  been 
acquitted  of  the  terrible  indictment,  although 
I  had  evaded  the  great  penalty. 

On  more  than  one  occasion  I  was  tempted 
to  make  a  bold  bid  for  freedom  by  taking 
summary  leave  of  my  captors,  but  quiet  re- 
flection convinced  me  that  such  a  step  might 
prove  disastrous,  v^hereas  the  scheme  I  v^as 
preparing  could  not  possibly  fail.  Of  this 
I  was  so  certain  as  to  be  prepared  to  put  it 
into  operation  at  the  first  opportunity.  I 
had  completed  everything  to  the  uttermost 
detail,  had  turned  over  in  my  mind  every 
possible  contingency  and  the  means  to  sur- 
mount it. 

As  soon  as  I  learned  that  the  exchange 
of  prisoners  was  being  mooted  throughout 
the  camp  I  lodged  an  application  with  the 

38^ 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

authorities  for  inclusion  among  the  favored. 
It  was  received  v^ith  amusement,  and  I  was 
sorely  heckled  by  the  officials  for  my  impu- 
dence, but  I  did  not  mind,  and  smiled  at 
their  statement  that  I  had  been  ear-marked 
for  imprisonment  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
I  had  already  set  my  project  in  motion,  and 
everything  was  running  in  accordance  with 
my  expectations.  I  badgered  the  authori- 
ties constantly,  and  observed  that  the  more 
I  did  so,  the  less  pronounced  became  their 
antagonism  to  myself.  Needless  to  say  I 
refrained  from  taking  a  single  person  into 
my  confidence. 

To  the  amazement  of  the  camp  my  name 
duly  appeared  upon  the  notice-board  as  a 
prisoner  to  be  exchanged.  Highly  elated,  I 
outwardly  preserved  calm  and  indifference. 
My  comrades  could  not  make  it  out,  and  I 
not  being  communicative,  they  discussed  the 
question  more  heatedly  among  themselves. 
But  they  were  thoroughly  sporting.  They 
saw  that  I  was  playing  a  deep  game,  and 
they  wished  me  every  success,  though  they 
did  not  hesitate  to  express  the  opinion  that 
I  should  be  tripped  up. 

383 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Things  proceeded  uneventfully.  I  kept 
myself  discreetly  away  from  my  colleagues 
and  restrained  myself  from  even  the  slight- 
est display  of  exuberance.  The  authorities 
v^ere  watching  me  at  every  turn,  and  I  knew 
it.  We  came  to  grips  for  the  first  time  in 
connection  with  the  signing  of  passports  by 
the  representative  from  the  American  Em- 
bassy. The  German  authorities  were  issu- 
ing special  passports  to  returning  prisoners, 
but  I  had  set  out  from  England  with  an 
orthodox  passport  entitling  me  to  proceed 
to  Russia.  I  still  possessed  the  document, 
and  I  expressed  my  determination  to  travel 
under  no  other.  There  was  a  spirited  alter- 
cation for  a  few  minutes,  but  at  last  I  got 
my  own  way,  the  authorities  compromising 
by  transfering  the  gist  of  their  special  pass- 
port to  the  inner  page  of  the  British  official 
passport,  and  attaching  my  photograph  to 
the  latter  in  conformation  with  the  regula- 
tions. 

The  train  by  which  I  left,  started  from 
Spandau,  was  under  military  guard,  and  pro- 
ceeded direct  to  the  frontier,  as  usual.  The 
final    examination   before   leaving   Spandau 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

was  critical  for  me.  We  were  all  turned  out 
of  the  train  after  taking  our  seats  to  be 
counted  and  recounted,  as  well  as  to  reply 
to  any  question  which  might  be  asked.  I 
kept  as  much  as  I  could  in  the  background, 
did  not  invite  questioning,  spoke  to  no  one, 
and  answered  the  soldiers  in  monosyllables. 
The  railway  journey  was  tedious,  and  once 
or  twice  I  was  on  the  verge  of  breaking 
down.  I  was  under  the  constant  surveil- 
lance of  the  guard,  every  movement  was 
closely  followed,  and  a  close  watch  was 
maintained  to  discover  if  I  talked  to  any- 
one. I  was  inscrutable  as  the  Sphinx.  My 
colleagues  passed  the  time  in  spirited  con- 
versation, jokes,  and  joyous  narration  of 
what  they  intended  to  do  when  they  re- 
gained British  soil.  It  was  more  than  my 
position  was  worth  to  join  in  with  them.  I 
was  thinking  hard,  my  nerves  and  wits 
keyed  to  concert  pitch,  while  I  braced  my- 
self for  the  final  encounter  at  the  frontier 
station,  where  I  knew  the  closing  examina- 
tion would  be  searching,  and  where  the 
slightest  inadvertence  would  bring  about  my 
undoing.      I    was    still    the    ' ' Englandische 

385 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

Spion''  to  those  in  charge  of  the  train,  and 
they  were  very  sorry  to  part  with  me. 

Reaching  the  frontier  the  train  was 
stopped.  Every  man  was  turned  out  and 
forced  to  parade  beside  the  line,  soldiers 
with  fixed  bayonets  mounting  guard.  We 
were  counted  and  recounted  to  make  sure 
the  number  of  prisoners  tallied  with  the  offi- 
cial consignment  note,  for  we  were  handled 
like  freight.  This  ordeal  proved  how  utterly 
impossible  it  would  have  been  for  anyone 
to  have  secreted  himself  upon  the  train,  be- 
cause it  was  ransacked  from  end  to  end,  in- 
side and  out,  above  and  beneath. 

We  stood  at  attention  beside  the  tracks 
while  the  cars  were  being  searched.  Names 
were  called  and  we  were  ordered  to  pass 
through  a  narrow  doorway,  only  wide 
enough  to  admit  one  person  at  a  time,  to 
submit  to  another  examination  and  search. 
I  was  moving  towards  the  building,  when 
an  officer  stepped  forward  and  clapped  his 
hand  on  my  shoulder.  I  turned,  and  in  spite 
of  my  self-control,  started.  It  was  all  up 
with  me.  Of  that  I  felt  certain,  for  the  man 
was  glowering  at  me  menacingly.    He  sum- 

3S6 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

moncd  a  superior  officer,  there  was  a  brief 
harangue  between  them,  and  then  the  latter, 
turning  to  me,  curtly  ordered  me  to  unstrap 
my  baggage.  I  did  so,  with  apparent  good 
grace,  although  I  was  cursing  inwardly. 
The  contents  of  the  bag  were  taken  out  one 
by  one,  shaken,  examined  inside  out  and 
from  end  to  end,  even  being  held  up  to  the 
light  to  make  sure  I  had  not  resorted  to  some 
extraordinary  subterfuge  to  carry  secret 
information.  As  the  garments  were  passed 
they  were  dumped  on  the  railway  tracks 
which  I  was  crossing  when  abruptly  held  up. 
Search  revealing  nothing  incriminating,  I 
was  gruffly  bidden  to  pick  up  my  traps,  and 
to  repack  them,  the  twain  standing  over  and 
watching  me  closely  meanwhile.  Then 
came  further  cross-examination  and  rigid 
personal  search. 

Although  now  I  felt  confident  that  I  was 
safe,  since  there  were  no  further  formalities 
with  which  to  comply,  I  did  not  relax  my 
watchfulness.  It  would  have  been  exceed- 
ingly dangerous  to  have  done  so  since  we 
were  still  on  German  soil,  though  over  there, 
a  few  yards  away,  was  the  German-Dutch 

3S7 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

frontier.  Freedom  was  so  near  and  yet  so 
far.  As  I  gazed  upon  the  friendly  stretch 
of  Dutch  territory,  my  nerve  almost  gave 
way,  but  I  pulled  myself  together,  and  there 
being  two  hours  on  our  hands  before  the 
train  left  for  Holland,  turned  into  the  re- 
freshment room.  The  strain  was  commenc- 
ing to  tell  on  me,  and  I  was  by  no  means 
easier  in  mind  to  find  that  I  was  still  under 
suspicion,  an  official  mounting  watch  over 
me  from  a  pace  or  two  distant. 

Kicking  my  heels  in  the  refreshment  room 
I  felt  that  I  could  breathe  a  trifle  more 
freely,  for  there  was  nothing  to  do  now  but 
to  await  the  train.  I  was  sitting  brooding, 
when  I  think  I  must  almost  have  bumped 
my  head  against  the  ceiling.  Two  names 
were  bawled  out  by  an  officer,  and  mine  was 
one  of  them.  I  nearly  collapsed  at  this  un- 
expected development,  and  pulling  myself 
together  with  a  great  effort,  I  shuffled  off 
in  obedience  to  the  summons.  I  was  sub- 
mitted to  another  round  of  acute  interroga- 
tion, and  there  was  another  examination  of 
my  baggage.  I  thanked  my  lucky  stars  that 
I  had  not  surreptitiously  slipped  anything 

388 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

from  my  person  into  the  bag  after  what  I 
thought  was  the  final  examination.  Had  I 
done  so,  I  should  have  been  tripped  up 
badly.  They  told  me  to  repack  and  get  into 
the  railway  carriage. 

At  last  the  train  jolted  forward  once 
more — but  how  slowly!  It  seemed  to  take 
as  long  to  cover  those  few  remaining  yards 
to  safety  as  it  did  to  complete  the  miles  be- 
tween the  internment  camp  and  this  outpost 
of  the  German  Empire. 

One  cannot  imagine  the  sigh  of  satisfac- 
tion which  went  up  as  we  drew  into  the 
Dutch  station.  The  prisoners  stretched  their 
chests,  to  drink  freely  and  fully  of  the  sweet 
air  of  freedom.  The  hospitality  of  the 
Dutch  almost  overwhelmed  us.  It  seemed 
so  strange  to  be  feted  and  to  be  pressed  with 
appetizing  dainties,  after  what  we  had  en- 
dured for  so  many  months. 

A  few  hours  later  we  swung  into  the 
estuary  of  the  Thames,  and  a  cheer  went  up 
as  we  threaded  the  field  dotted  with  the 
fighting  ships  of  the  Home  Country.  That 
glimpse  of  Britain's  Silent  Might  infused 
new  life  into  us,  and  we  gave  another  cheer 

3^9 


INTERNED    IN    GERMANY 

at  the  hearty  welcome  we  received  from  the 
sailors  who  watched  us  ploughing  Tilbury- 
wards.  To  appreciate  the  feeling  with  which 
I  stepped  ashore,  and  once  more  trod  upon 
the  firm  soil  of  free  Britain,  one  must  have 
been  in  bondage,  to  have  suffered  cruelties 
and  privations  indescribable.  Then,  and  not 
until,  one  is  able  to  form  some  opinion  of 
what  return  to  the  Homeland  and  all  that 
it  signifies,  meant  to  us. 


THE  END. 


390 


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